


& 



■■■■ 






m&. 






SSL 

mm 



Library of Congress. 1 



82 "DO >*_^ -^ ® 

a 



CHAT. -3_S'*D. 

^ Shelf i_L__l_J 

i \%?i\ . 1 



^^UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.^ ^ 








*£^^1~^- 






DICTIONARY 



OF IMPORTANT 



NAMES, OBJECTS, AND TERMS, 



FOUND IN THE 



HOLY SCRIPTURES. 

INTENDED PRINCIPALLY FOR YOUTH. 



BY HOWARD MALCOM, A. M. 



FOURTH EB ITION -,/£$!$ ' **i Tf'5| 

asoston: ^>orm^p 

PUBLISHED BY LINCOLN & EDMANDS* 

Sold also by J* Leavitt, J. P. Haven, and David Felt, New-York ; at the 
f raet Depository, 36, North Fifth-Street, Philadelphia; by Armstrong 
and Plaskitt, J. Jewett, and Cuihing &. Soni, Baltimore*, and by Book- 
sel!er« generally. 

1831. 









DISTRICT OF MASSACHUSETTS, £o wit: 

District Cleric's Office. 

BE IT REMEMBERED, That on the twentieth day of No- 
vember, A, D. 1829, in the fiflv-fouith year of the Independence of the 
United States of America, LINCOLN k EDMANDS, of the said dis- 
trict, have deposited in this office the title of a Book, the right whereof 
they claim as Proprietors, in the words following, to wit: 

"A Dictionary of important Names, Objects, and Terms, found in 
the Holy Scripture. Intended principally for youth. By Howard 
Malcona, A. M. 

In Conformity to the Act of the Congress of the United States, entitled, 
**An Act for the encouragement of Learning, by securing the copies of 
Maps, Charts, and Books, to the Authors and Proprietors of such copies 
■during the times therein mentioned ;" and also to an Act, entitled, "An 
Act supplementary to an Act, entitled, An Act for the encouragement of 
Learning, by securing the copies of Maps, Charts, and Books to the Authors 
and Proprietors of such copies during the times therein meutioned : and 
extending the benefits thereof to the arts of Designing, Engraving, and 
Etching Historical and other Prints." 

JNQ. W. DAVIS, Clerk of the District of Massachusetts. 



PPvEFACE. 



PRODUCTIONS that are the result of labour, more than of genius^ 
lie under two great disadvantages: — the pleasure of composing is incom- 
parably less, and the composition itself is held in far less estimation. The 
author's motive in undertaking the drudgery of preparing this vol- 
ume was, that such a work seemed to him not only eminently needed 
for youth, but almost indispensable ; while nothing of the kind existed 
within his knowledge. It was chiefly prepared at small intervals of 
leisure while travelling as General Agent of the American Sunday 
School Union, and has now been retained nearly three years, in the 
hope that some more perfect work of the kind would appear. During 
this time it has been kept at hand for the purpose of inserting whatever 
seemed appropriate in the current religious periodicals, missionary re- 
ports, &c. The chief sources of aid, however, have been the works of 
Calmet, Whitby, Wells, Carpenter, Brown, Wood, Paxton, and Harmer. 
Extracts have in some instances been taken, as well as facts or thoughts 5 
but references seemed unnecessary. 

In most Dictionaries of the Bible, a large proportion of the matter 
consists of Scripture narrative, digested under heads, or verbal defini- 
tions. It is believed that the reading of the Bible itself, is now so gen- 
eral among the classes of persons for whom this book is intended, as to 
make that plan undesirable in this instance. The object here is, in ref- 
erence to Scriptuie names, to throw light on the sacred page, rather 
than to borrow it from thence. While therefore a great number of 
persons and places of which nothing is known, except from Scripture^ 
is omitted, more Scripture illustration, adapted to youth, will, it is hoped, 
be found here than in any one of the larger works above named. In re- 
gard to doctrinal terms, &c. the usual course was necessarily pursued. 
As gome of the articles may seem hardly comprehensible to children, 
it is proper to remark that the work was intentionally graduated to the 
common level of Sabbath School teachers 5 who it is hoped will find it a 
convenient and useful manual. Only by bringing the book to this stand- 
ard, could it be made itself a teacher, which was the great object. It 
was hoped by this plan to make it useful to parents, also, in answering 
the numerous questions of intelligent children who read the Bible. 

It is now issued to serve a necessity 5 and if the " Father of lights" do 
but make it useful in the dissemination of heavenly truth, the desires of 
the Author will be fully realized. 

Hayward Place, Boston> 
Jan. 1, 1830, 



ADVERTISEMENT 

TO THE SECOND EDITION. 



THE short interval which has elapsed since the first publication of 
this work, has been diligently improved to render it more worthy 
of its favourable reception by the public. Home's Introduction, Rob- 
inson's Greek Lexicon, Harris's Natural History of the Bible, Jones's 
Biblical Cyclopaedia, Jahn's Archaeology, and Ingraham's Geographical 
Index, have been kept at hand, while occasional resort has been had to 
the later volumes of the Missionary Herald, Parish's Bible Gazetteer 
and Rees's Cyclopaedia. From these sources, in addition to those men- 
tioned in the preface, nearly two hundred new and important articles are 
added 5 most of the others are enriched, corrected, or condensed. The 
accentuation of all such words as seemed liable to erroneous pronuncia- 
tion, will prove, it is hoped, a valuable improvement. 

The references to passages of Scripture have all been carefully ex- 
amined, by which numerous typographical errors, derived from works 
which were consulted, have been discovered and rectified. In many 
cases new references are added ; and some are substituted in place of 
former ones, as being more accurate and useful. The quotations, being 
cow all made from the Bible itself, it is hoped the work is, in this respect, 
entirely correct. These references are regarded as forming one of the 
most important features in the book ; and if parents would make it an 
occasional Sabbath evening's exercise to read a few articles, while each 
child sat round with a Bible in his hand, and should turn to the text, great 
interest and light would be thrown over the quoted Scripture, as well as 
the article itself; and a pleasing opportunity would be thus afforded, for 
the inculcation of religious truth. 

The labours of preparing this work, though unexpectedly arduous* 
have been exceedingly useful to the Author as a biblical student; and 
t he hope of their being useful to others has added pleasure to the task* 
The humble effort is now affectionately commended to those for whose 
benefit it is made. 

April 1st, 1830. 



ADVERTISEMENT TO THE THIRD EDITION. 

The sale of two large editions of this Dictionary in tbe short space of six 
months, has animated the Author to make the utmost exertions to render 
the work perfect in its department. Every word has been care fully revis- 
ed, many new references added, and much other matter introduced, which 
it i* hoped the reader will find both important and interesting. 

Boston, Aug. 1st, 1830. 



A. 



AB'ANA and Pharpar, 
two rivers of Syria, which 
Naaman the leper thought 
" better than all the waters 
of Israel." Abana is proba- 
bly the Barraddy, which 
rises in Lebanon, and runs 
towards the south. Perhaps 
the Pharpar is the same with 



Oronles, which. 



rising alit- 



AA'RON, a prince of the 
family of Levi, was by di- 
vine direction consecrated to 
the office of High Priest by 
Moses, his brother. After 
the schism of Korah, Numb. 
xvi. the Lord confirmed his 
appointment, by the miracle 
of the budding rod and other 
signs. He died in Mount 
Hor, A. M. 2552, aged 123 
years, and was succeeded 
by his sun Eleazar. See 
Priesthood. 

AB AD'DON, " is the an- 
gel of the bottomless pit, 
whose name in the Hebrew 

tongue is Abaddon, but minifying a beloved father. The 
the Greek tongue, hath his; word is used by our Lord in 
name Apollyon." Rev. ix.j his agony, Markxiv. 36, and 
11. Writers on the prophe- by Paul, when he recounts to 



tie to the north-east of Da- 
mascus, passes Antioch, and 
after a course of 200 miles 
to the north-west, loses it- 
self in the Mediterranean 
Sea. 2 Kings v. 12. 
AB'BA,a Syriac word.sig- 



cies greatly differ in their 
interpretation of the above 
text. The name is generally 
applied to Satan. Such as 
suppose the locusts men- 
tioned in that chapter mean 
Musselmans, consider that 
the name applies to Mahom- 
et. Such as regard the lo- 
custs as figuring Catholic 
clergy, apply these terms 
to the Pope. 



the believers of Rome and 
Galatia, their glorious priv- 
ileges; foremost of which he 
places u the spirit of adop- 
tion, by which they cry Ab- 
ba Father." Rom. viii. 15. 
Gal. iv. 6. We thus per- 
ceive, both in the term itself, 
and the manner of using it, 
how endearing and consol- 
ing is the access to God, 
which the Christian enjoys. 



ABI 



8 



ABY 



ABFA, second son to 
Samuel, and brother to Joel. 
When the priests were 
divided into twenty-four 
courses, the 8th was called 
from him ; or, as some sup- 
pose, from Abijah, men- 
tioned 1 Chron. xxiv. 10. 
Luke i. 5. 

A'BIB, or Nisan, the 
name of the first sacred, and 
seventh civil month of the 
Jewish year. It answered 
to our March. The word 
signifies ripe fruit ; and was 
given to this month, because 
in the middle of it, the Jews 
generally began their har- 
vest. On the 14th day of this 
month, the Passover was eat- 
en. Their civil year com- 
menced in September ; and 
therefore their jubilees, and 
other civil matters, were 
regulated in that way ; see 
Levit. xxv. 8, 9, 10. This 
change of beginning, as to 
the sacred year, took place 
at the redemption of Israel 
from Egypt. Ex. xii. 2. 

ABILE'NE, a small can- 
ton in Syria, between Leba- 
non and Antilibanus. It 
took its name from Jlbila, 
which probably was the 
same with Abelmaim. Ly- 
sanias was governor here in 
the fifteenth year of Tiberi- 
us. Luke iii. 1. 

ABIM'ELECH. The ti- 
tle of the kings of Philistia, 
as Ptolemy was of the kings 
of Egypt, and Caesar of the 



emperors of Rome. Gen. 
xxi. and xxxvi. It was the 
name of a very wicked ruler 
in Israel, in the time of the 
Judges. Jud. ix. 
ABOMINATION, athing 
hateful. Sin is called an 
abomination because detest- 
able to God and good beings. 
Various gross practices are 
so called. Wearing the 
dress of the opposite sex, 
Deut. xxii. 5. Lying, Prov. 
xii. 22. False weights, Isa. 
lxvi. 3. False doctrines, 
Rev. xvii. 4. Idols, Deut. 
vii. 26. Proud persons, Prov. 
xvi. 5. The " sacrifices of 
the wicked," that is, hypo- 
critical services are an 
abomination. Prov. xv. 8. 
In Dan. xii. 11, and Matt, 
xxiv. 15, the allusion is to 
Roman armies, which, as 
heathen, were hateful to 
the Jews. 

ABRAHAM, a wander- 
ing shepherd of vast wealth 
and pre-eminent piety. He 
was born A. M. 2008, only 
two years after the death of 
JYoah, though there were 
nine generations between 
them. Being the progenitor 
of all the Jews, he was call- 
ed the u Father of the faith- 
ful." His history is one 
of deep interest, and is 
given in Genesis at great 
length. 

ABYSS', a word used 
in Scripture, sometimes to 
mean hell, and sometimes 



ACE 



ACT 



the depths of the ocean, and 
the waters which flow un- 
der the earth. 

AC'CHO, a sea-port of 
Canaan, belonging to the 
tribe of Asher, but not con- 
quered by them. Jud. i. 31 
It first became an important 
city under the reign of 
Ptolemy Philadelphus, who 
greatly enlarged and beau- 
tified the place, and from 
whom it was long called 
Ptolemais. It became fa- 
mous during the crusades, 
and was then called St. 
John de Acre. The Chris- 
tians were expelled from it, 
as their last hold in Pales- 
tine, about 1291, and it has 
since been held by the 
Turks. The French under 
Napolean, met a repulse 
here, in 1799. The present 
population is about 10,000, 
but very poor. It is now 
called Acre. 

ACEL'DAMA, a field ly- 
ing a little south of Jerusa- 
lem, where potters dug their 
clay. The money which 
Judas threw back to the 
Jewish rulers, being the 
price of blood, as they call- 
ed it, they would not put 
into the Lord's treasury, 
but with it purchased this 
field, wherefore it was call- 
ed '-Aceldama, or, The 
Field of Blood." Acts i. 
18, 19. Zech. xi. 12, 13. 
It was then appropriated 
as a place to bury strangers, 



from which the burial 
ground for this purpose is, 
in some cities, called Pot- 
ters' Field. Matt, xxvii. 8. 
Maundrell was shown this 
spot, still used by the Ar- 
menians for a grave yard. 
It is now about 100 feet 
long and 40 broad, and is 
called Campo Sancto. 

ACHA'IA, in the largest 
sense, comprehended all 
Greece Proper. This seems 
the meaning, 2 Cor. xi. 10. 
Thus, what is Achaia, Acts 
xix. 21, is Hellas, i. e. 
Greece, Acts xx. 2. In the 
strict use of the term, Achaia 
was that northern part of 
the Peloponnesus, the capi- 
tal of which was Corinth. 
It is now called Livadia, or 
the Morea. 

A'CHOR. This word sig- 
nifies trouble, and was the 
name of a valleynearJericho, 

ACRE. The English acre 
is 4840 square yards, the 
Roman 3200, and the Egyp- 
tian 3698 ; but the Hebrew 
acre appears to mean what 
one yoke of oxen could 
plough in a day. Ten acres 
of vineyard yielding one 
bath, and the seed of an ho- 
mer producing an ephah, 
Isa. v. 10, means that the 
land should be afflicted with 
dreadful sterility, for such 
a crop is scarcely a tenth 
part of the seed sown. 

ACTS of the Apostles, 
the history of the primitive 



ADJ 



10 



ADR 



church, written by Luke. 
It does not contain a full ac- 
count of the labours of all 
the apostles, but only of a 
few as a specimen ; chiefly 
those of Paul. The narra- 
tive commences at the as- 
cension of Christ, and ex- 
tends to Paul's arrival at 
Rome, on his appeal to 
Ccesar ; a period of about 30 
years. 

AD' AMANT, a beautiful 
stone of the hardest kind, 
generally called diamond. 
Diamonds are chiefly ob- 
tained, in India, from the 
mines in Golconda, Visa- 
poor, and Borneo. Some 
are now obtained from Bra- 
zil. Its great hardness 
makes it resist an intense 
fire, cut glass, &c. Sinners' 
hearts are compared to ada- 
mant. Zech. vii. 12. 

A'DAR,the twelfth month 
of the Jewish sacred year, 
and the sixth of the civil; 
corresponding to February. 
As their intercalary month 
was added at the end of the 
year, it was called Ve Adar, 
or second Adar. 

ADDER, a venomous 
reptile, brought forth alive, 
and not hatched from eggs, 
as are most serpents. It is 
often called a viper. 

ADJURE. It was a cus- 
tom among the Jews to ad- 
jure, which was by a form 
of execration laid on the 
person if he did not answer 



truly. It was the same as 
administering an oath is 
now ; so that though Christ 
held his peace when merely 
interrogated, he acknowl- 
edged when adjured, or put 
on oath, that he was the 
Son of God. Matt. xxvi. 63. 

ADOPTION, the act of 
taking one into the fami- 
ly for a child. Pharaoh's 
daughter adopted Moses, 
and Mordecai thus received 
Esther. True believers in 
Christ, who rely upon the 
efficacious atonement of his 
precious blood, and the sure 
merit of his perfect right- 
eousness, for the pardon of 
their sins and reconciliation 
to God, being regenerated 
by the Spirit, and freely 
justified by grace, through 
the redemption of Jesus 
Christ, are said to be put 
into this state of adoption. 
2 Cor. vi. 18. 

m ADRGM'MELECH. a 
deity of the Sepharvites, 
who seems to have been 
worshipped as the god of 
flocks and herds. This was 
also the name of a son of 
Sennacherib, who with his 
brother Sharezer slew their 
father in the temple of Kis- 
roch. Isa. xxxvii. 38. 

ADRAMY'FTIUM is by 
some geographers affirmed 
to be tiie same with Thebes 
in Egypt. Others maintain 
with more probability, that 
this city was in Mijsia, op.- 



AGR 



11 



ALA 



posite Lesbos. The latter 
was situated at the foot of 
Mount Ida, and was found- 
ed by a colony from Athens. 
It was a place of much con- 
merce, Acts xxvii. 2; but it 
is now a poor fishing vil- 
lage, and is called Dramiti. 

A'DRIA, a sea now call- 
ed the Gulf of Venice, on 
the coast of Italy. Paul in 
going to Rome, suffered an 
extreme tempest in this sea. 
Acts xxvii. 27. 

ADUL'LAM was once a 
noble town in the north part 
of the lot of Judah. Near it 
was the place of David's 
concealment. 1 Sam. xxii. 1. 

ADULTERY, violating 
the bed of a married person. 
In a spiritual sense it means 
idolatry, or the act of pay- 
ing that homage to the 
creature, which is due only 
to the Creator. Jer. iii. 9. 
Ezek. xxiii. 37. 

AG'ATE, a gem of various 
colours and degrees of tran- 
sparency. It is found in the 
form of rounded nodules, 
from the size of a pin's head 
to more than a foot in diam- 
eter ; in the river Wolga, in 
Germany, in the pudding 
stone of Siberia, in Ceylon, 
Scotland, &c. those of the 
last named country, are 
commonly called Scotchpeb- 
bles. It is a stone of great 
beauty, and is only cheap 
because found in abundance. 

AGRIP'PA. See Herod. 



AHASUE'RUS. There 
were several kings of this 
name. He who was the 
husband of Esther, was 
probably Darius Hystaspis. 
Dean Prideaux is confident 
he was ArtaxerxesLongim- 
anus. 

AIR, a fluid which sur- 
rounds the earth to the ex- 
tent of about fifty miles. Air 
has a considerable weight. 
About 2160 pound-weight of 
it presses on every square 
foot ; and allowing the sur- 
face of a human body to be 
15 square feet, the pressure 
of air on it must amount to 
32,400 pounds weight. But 
this pressure is not felt, be- 
cause our bodies contain 
such a portion as serves to 
buoy them up. Air is neces- 
sary not only to the exist- 
ence ofman,butof all ani- 
mals and plants. The winds 
keep it pure. Creatures in- 
habiting the water need air 
as much as land animals. 
Some of these come often 
to the surface to breathe, 
and those which have gills, 
manufacture air for them- 
selves out of water. If 
there were no air, we could 
neither see, hear nor speak ; 
there could be neither 
clouds nor rain. Indeed, 
the whole world would be 
destroyed, if the air were 
to be destroyed, or even be- 
come stagnant. 

AL'ABASTER, & name 



ALE 



12 



ALO 



now applied to a soft fine 
white species of marble, or 
sulphat of lime. The word 
is derived from the name 
given by the Greeks to an 
urn or vessel without han- 
dles especially those made 
full at the bottom, and nar- 
row at the top, so as to be 
easily stopped, and thus es- 
pecially proper for oint- 
ments and perfumes. Ala- 
basters were of glass, silver, 
or gold. It was customary 
at feasts among the great, 
to anoint the hair of the 
guests with costly perfume. 
Ps. xxiii. 5, and xlv. 7. Mat- 
thew xxvi. 7. 

ALBE'IT,anoldwordfor 
nevertheless, or although. 

ALEXANDRIA, a cele- 
brated city in Lower Egypt; 
situated between lake Ma- 
reotis and the western 
branch of the Nile, near its 
mouth ; founded by Alex- 
ander the Great. After the 
destruction of Carthage, it 
was, for ages, the chief city 
of the world, next to Rome. 
Its commerce extended to 
every part of the then 
known world. The Ptole- 
mies made it their royal 
residence, and each succes- 
sive monarch laboured to 
embellish it. When the 
Romans in their vast con- 
quests annexed Egypt to 
their empire, they respect- 
ed and preserved the beau- 
ties of this city, and it con- 



tinued to flourish. Under 
the Saracens, it soon began 
to decay. They madly burnt 
its famous library of 700,000 
volumes, A. D. 642. Nu- 
merous Jews resided here, 
engaged in trade and com- 
merce ; 50,000 of whom 
were murdered, under the 
Emperor Nero. When the 
Arabs took it as above, they 
found 40,000 Jews who paid 
tribute. In a ship belonging 
to Alexandria, Paul sailed 
for Rome. Acts xxvii. 6. 
Christianity was early plant- 
ed in this place. Mark the 
Evangelist is said to have 
first preached here. Here 
Apollos was born. Acts 
xviii. 24. It is now dwind- 
led to a village, with noth- 
ing remarkable but the ru- 
ins of ancient grandeur. 

AL'LEGORY, a simili- 
tude carried out to more 
length than a metaphor. 
Gal. iv. 24, 31. 

ALMS. Bounty to the 
poor. Matt. vi. 1. 

AL'MUGTREE. Some 
suppose it to be coral, which 
grows in the shape of a tree. 
More probably the ebony. 
It is thought to be the same 
with the Shittah, or Shit- 
tim-tree. 1 Kings x. 11. 

AL'OES. Tournefort 
reckons fourteen kinds of 
the aloe-tree. The Amer- 
ican aloe is famous for its 
fine flowers,whichareofthe 
lily kind ; the Asian for the 




THE ALTAR OF BUR^T-OFFERIXG. 




THE ARK OF THE COVENANT. 



ALT 



15 



AMB 



useful drug prepared from 
it. The drug called aloe, 
famed for its purgative 
qualities, is formed of the 
juice of the leaves, harden- 
ed in the sun. That which 
is most nicely prepared is 
called the succotri7ie, the 
next is called hyyatic, and 
the coarsest is the horse 
aioe. Aloes were anciently 
used for the embalming of 
dead bodies, and as a per- 
fume. John six. 39. Prov. 
vii. 17. 

AL'PHA, the first letter 
of the Greek alphabet. It 
is used in connexion with 
Omega, which is the last 
letter, to express the eter- 
nity of Jesus Christ. Rev. 
i. 8, 11. 

ALTAR, among the Jews, 
the place where sacrifices 
were laid and offered. Af- 
ter the erection of the tab- 
ernacle, two altars were ap- 
pointed, one for sacrifices, 
the other for incense, and 
on no others were offerings 
lawful. The annexed pic- 
ture represents the " altar 
of burnt offering" as made 
by Solomon, which was 
thirty feet square, and fif- 
teen feet high. It stood 
not in the tabernacle, but 
in the court. The •' attar 
of incense" was a table a- 
bout two feet square and 
four feet high, plated with 
old, and stood in the Holy 
lace, Some Christians 



still apply the name to the 
table where the communion 
is administered • but Christ 
is the only Christian altar 
to which we bring all our 
sacrifices and services. Heb. 
xiii. 19. 

AM'ALEKITES, a na- 
tion occupying a territory 
between the Red and Dead 
Seas. About A. M. 2091 
Chedorlaomer ravaged their 
country, at which time mul- 
titudes left it. it is thought 
by some, that these poured 
themselves on Egypt, and 
were the shepherds men- 
tioned by Manetho. Saul, 
long afterward, made war 
on this people, and utterly 
ruined them. 1 Sam. xv. 
Afterward a remnant gath- 
ered again, which was final- 
ly destroyed by the Simeon- 
ites, in the days of Heze- 
kiah. 1 Chron. iv. 
AMBASSADOR, a legate 
or apostle. A person sent on 
behalf ol another, and with 
powers to act on his behalf 
according to general in- 
structions given. 2 Cor. v.20. 
AMBER, a yellow, in- 
flammable substance, trans- 
parent if pure, which seems 
to have been originally in a 
fluid state, as leaves and in- 
sects are often found in it. 
It is obtained from Germa- 
ny, Poland, &c. but chiefly 
from Prussia, where it is so 
abundant that mines are 
regularly worked for it. It 



AMO 



16 



ANG 



was formerly cut into va- 
rious ornaments, and rank- 
ed in value among the 
precious stones. Ezek. i. 
4, and viii. 2. 

AMEN, true, verily, be it 
so. Christ is called The 
AMEN,because he is the God 
of truth. Rev. iii. 14. The 
promises are said to be " Yea 
and Amen," in Christ, be- 
cause that by him they will 
infallibly be all accomplish- 
ed. 2 Cor. i. 20. 

AM'ETHYST, a very 
rare gem, generally of <a 
purple or violet colour. It 
is found in Germany, Spain, 
and other countries, but 
the most valuable are ob- 
tained in Asia and Russia. 

AMMONITES, a people 
descended from Lot. They 
oppressed Israel 18 years, 
and were then overcome by 
Jepthah. Jud. x. &c. At va- 
rious times in after ages 
they were permitted to 
scourge the Hebrews. 2 
Chron. xx. At length Judas 
Maccabeus overcame them, 
ravaged the country, and 
burnt their cities. The poor 
remains were afterward 
mingled among the Arabs, 
and the name was lost from 
among nations. Amos i. 
11—14. Zeph. ii. 9— 11. 
AM-'ORITES, inhabitants 
of the fine country in Syria, 
which was given to Israel. 
They occupied that portion 
which afterward constituted 



the lots of Reuben, Gad, 
Manasseh, Dan, Judah, 
Simeon, and Benjamin As 
they were the most power- 
ful of the devoted tribes, all 
the Canaanites sometimes 
wentunder their name. Jud. 
vi. 10. 2 Kings xxi. 11. 

AMOS began to prophesy 
a little before Hosea, and 
continued a while cotempo- 
rary with that prophet, dur- 
ing the reign of Uzziah. 
His prophecy relates chiefly 
to the ruin and restoration 
of the Jews. 

AMPHIP'OLIS,acityof 
Macedonia. Acts xvii. 1. 
It is now called Emboli. 
ADAM/MELECH, an idol 
of the Sepharvites, a tribe 
of the Samaritans. 2 Kings 
xvii. 31. 

ANANI'AS, the name of 
three persons mentioned in 
the New Testament. 

1. A professed christian, 
who, with his wife Sapphira, 
died at the rebuke of Peter, 
for their falsehood and hy- 
pocrisy. Acts v. 1 — 5. 

2. A christian of Damas- 
cus, who restored Paul to 
sight. Acts ix. 10 — 17, &c. 

3. The high priest, who 
presided in the council at 
Paul's examination. Acts 
xxiii. 2. 

ANATH'EMA, a solemn 
curse; an accursed or de- 
voted person or thing. 1 
Cor. xvi. 22. 

ANGEL, a messenger. It 



ANG 



17 



ANO 



is applied to those heavenly 
agents winch are the high- 
est created intellectual be- 
ings, whom God makes use 
of as his ministers to exe- 
cute the orders of provi- 
dence; Rev. xxii. 8; to 
Christ, who is the Mediator 
and Head of the church ; 
Zech. i. 12. Rev. x. 1 ; to 
ministers of the Gospel, who 
are the ambassadors for 
Christ ; Rev. ii. 1, and iii. 1, 
7; to those whom God em- 
ploys to execute his judg- 
ments, Rev. xv. 8, and xvi. 
1 ; to devils ; Matt. xxv. 41. 
1 Cor. vi. 3. The most com- 
mon application of the term, 
is to the happy spirits who 
have never fallen. When 
God founded the earth with 
such skill and goodness, 
they sang together and 
shouted for joy. Jobxxxviii. 
6., 7. They were created 
with eminent wisdom, holi- 
ness, and purity, and placed 
in a most happy and hon- 
ourable estate ; but capable 
of change, and some of 
them fell. Their knowl- 
edge is great, but not in- 
finite ; they desire to look 
into the mystery of our sal- 
vation, and learn from the 
church the manifold wis- 
dom of God. Nor can they 
search the hearts of men, 
nor know future things, but 
as particularly instructed of 
God. 1 Pet. i. 12. Eph. iii. 
10. Jer. xvii. 10. Mat. xxiv. 
B 



36. Their power is vast; 
but reaches to nothing 
strictly miraculous. Their 
number amounts to many 
millions. Psl. lxviii. 17. 
Matt. xxvi. 53. Rev. v. 11. 
Dan. vii. 10. Their names, 
of u thrones, dominions, 
principalities, and powers," 
suggest an order among 
them, though of what kind 
we cannot certainly ascer- 
tain. Col. i. 16. 

AN'ISE, a small plant, 
somewhat like parsley, very 
common in Juuea. The seed 
is carminative and fragrant- 

ANOINT, to pour oil up- 
on a person, as was done 
among the Jews, when they 
set apart a person to a holy 
office, as of prophet, priest, 
or king ; which being by di- 
vine appointment, was to 
denote the person's being 
endued with the gifts of the 
Spirit. Rut Jesus Christ 
was the only one ever par- 
ticularly designated by God 
to fill all the three distinct 
offices of prophet, priest, 
and king ; who was in a pe- 
culiar manner filled with 
the Holy Ghost, of which 
the oil was the emblem, and 
thereby consecrated and au- 
thorized to be the Messiah. 
Christ is emphatically styl- 
ed the anointed, in various 
parts of Scripture. 

ANON, a word in com- 
mon use when our transla- 
tion of the Bible was made, 



ANT 



18 



APO 



of the same import as quick- 
ly. Mark xiii. 20. 
ANTICHRIST is a word 

of Greek origin, signifying 
a person or power, actuated 
by a spirit opposite to that 
of Christ. In the days of 
John there were already 
many antichrists. 1 John 
ii. 18, and iv. 3. The term 
has been commonly applied 
to the church of Rome, 
which is thought to be des- 
cribed 2 Thess. ii. 4. Com- 
pare Daniel vii. 24, 25, and 
Rev. xvii. 1 — 6. Whether 
this application of the term 
be correct or not, has little 
to do with the controversy 
respecting the Catholic re- 
ligion, as that must stand 
on the general agreement 
or disagreement of its doc^ 
trines and practices with 
Scripture. 

AN'TIOCH, the capital 
of Syria, lying on both 
banks of the Orontes, twelve 
miles from the Mediterra- 
nean sea. It was ranked 
the third city of the earth, 
being scarcely inferior to 
Alexandria. It was the 
royal residence of the kings 
of Syria. Luke and Theoplt- 
ilus were born in this place. 
Here Paul and Barnabas 
preached, and here the dis- 
ciples of Christ were first 
called Christians. Chrysos- 
tom preached here in the 
fourth century with great 
success. This church was 



famous for many hundred 
years. In the year A. D. 
538, sixty thousand ofit3 
inhabitants perished in an 
earthquake. In 1188 it was 
demolished by the Saracens. 
In 1822 a tremendous earth- 
quake completely destroyed 
the remains of this once 
splendid city ; and it is now 
little else than a heap of 
ruins. Its present name is 
JLntakia. There were many 
other cities called Antioch : 
None of which are mention- 
ed in Scripture, but that 
in Pisidia, which is now 
called Ak-shcr. Acts xiii. 14. 

ANTIP'ATRIS, a city of 
Canaan, situated in a pleas- 
ant valley, near the moun- 
tains, in the way from Jeru- 
salem to Cesarea, about 17 
miles distant from Joppa, 
and 42 from Jerusalem. 
Acts xxiii. 31. It was for- 
merly called Capharsalama. 
1 Maccabees vii. 31, but 
was of little note till enlarg- 
ed and adorned by Herod. 

AP'PII FORUM, a place 
in the south-west of Italy, 
about fifty miles from Rome, 
where Paul was met by his 
Christian friends. Acts 
xxviii. 15. It is now called 
Fossa JVuova. 
APOCRYPHA, a number 
of books often placed be- 
tween the Old and New 
Testaments. They were 
not admitted by the ancient 
Christians into the canon of 



APP 



19 



ARA 



Scripture. None of them! 
were ever received by the! 
Jews. They are not found 
in the catalogue of the can- ! 
onical books, made by Mi- 
leto, bishop of Carthage, in 
the second century; nor 
does Origen in the third, or 
Epiphanius in the fourth, 
acknowledge their authen- 
ticity. Few of them were 
allowed to be canonical, till 
in the ninth and tenth cen- 
turies, when the ignorance, 
both of the people and of the 
clergy was most deplorable. 
The popish council of Trent 
voted them to be authentic, 
and they are still retained 
by that persuasion. Some 
of these books contain use- 
ful history and wholesome 
advice, but others are pue- 
rile and fabulous. 

APOLLO'NIA,an unim- 
portant city of Macedonia, 
now called Polina. Acts 
xvii. 1. 

APOLL'YON. See A- 

BAODOX. 

APOSTLE, a messen- 
ger; the title given to the 
twelve disciples of our bles- 
sed Saviour, who were sent 
forth to preach the gospel. 
It is applied to Christ Jesus, 
who was sent from heaven 
to assume our nature, and 
to effect the great work of 
man's redemption, by his 
merits and death. Heb. iii. 1. 
APPLE-TREE. The 
kinds are numerous ; but it 



is a species of fruit not com- 
mon in Palestine. The tree 
so called in Scripture is 
probably the citron, w r hich 
is large, ever-green, and 
fragrant, and affords a de- 
lightful shade. Songs viii. 
5. Prov. xxv. 11. 

ARABIA, a large coun- 
try of Asia, lying partly on 
the east, but chiefly south- 
ward of Canaan. Its great- 
est length fiom east to west, 
is about 1620 miles ; and its 
greatest breadth from north 
to south, about 1350. It 
has the Indian ocean on the 
south, the R,ed Sea and Isth- 
mus of Suez on the west, 
Canaan and Syria on the 
north-west and north, the 
mountains of Cbaldea and 
the Persian gulf on the east. 
It is ordinarily divided into 
three parts. (1.) Arabia 
Petrcsa, or the rocky, on the 
north-west, and which is 
now called Hejiaz. In the 
south-west part of it now 
stand the famed cities of 
Mecca and Medina.so much 
visited by Mahometan pil- 
grims. This division con- 
tained the land of Edom, 
the wilderness of Paran, 
the land of Cushan, &c. 
The people of this part are 
called " Men of the east." 
Genesis xxv. 6. Judges vi. 
3. (2.) Arabia Deserta, 
which lay eastward of Ca- 
naan, and comprehended 
the land of Uz, of Ammon. 



ARA 



20 



ARE 



Moab, Midian, with the 
country of the Itureans, Ha- 
garenes, &c. In this part 
was Mount Sinai. (3.) Ara- 
bia Felix, or the happy, on 
the south of the two former, 
between the Persian gulf 
and Red sea. Scarcely any 
part of Arabia is well wa- 
tered ; but Arabia-Felix 
is famed for its opium, 
myrrh, cassia, and other 
drugs, as well as for fine 
spices and fruits. The 
Arabians are, in general, 
the descendants of Ishmael. 
The descendants of Abra- 
ham by Keturah, as well 
as those of Lot and Esau, 
dwelt also in this land, and 
either mixed with, or drove 
out, the inhabitants. 

AR'ARAT, a mountain in 
the country of the same 
name, on which rested No- 
ah's ark. Part of the prov- 
ince which was formerly so 
called, lies in Turcomania, 
and the rest is in Persia. It 
has Georgia on the north, 
Media on the east, Assyria 
on the south, and Lesser 
Asia on the west. Here the 
rivers Euphrates, Tigris, 
Araxes, and Phasis, have 
their source. Here stand 
the famed mountains, Tau- 
rus and Antitaurus, Nipha- 



tes, Gordian, &c. 



Th< 



mountain of Ararat, upon 
which Noah's ark rested, 
was probably the Ar-dagh 
or finger-mountain, near the 



north-east of Armenia. It 
stands in a large plain, thir- 
ty-six miles east from E- 
rivan, rising in a conical 
shape to the height of about 
12,000 feet above the level 
of the sea, and is visible 
nearly two hundred miles 
distant. Its top is inacces- 
sible on account of the snow 
which perpetually covers it. 
The middle part is haunted 
by a multitude of tigers ; 
some poor flocks, and two 
pitiful monasteries, are 
seen at the foot. 

ARCHANGEL, the chief 
angel. The name is never 
used in the plural, and some 
learned men are decidedly 
of opinion that it means Je- 
sus Christ. 1 Thess. iv. 16. 

ARCTU'RUS, a star of 
the first magnitude in the 
constellation of Bootes, near 
the north pole. It becomes 
visible in September, and 
sets in March. Job ix. 9. 
The " sons ofArctunts" are 
probably the inferior stars 
adiacent. Job xxxviii. 32. 

AREOP'AGUS,the high 
court of Athens, called 
Mars-hill, because it was 
held on that eminence. It 
first consisted oinine judges, 
afterward of thirty, and fi- 
nally of five hundred. 
There are still to be seen 
vestiges of their seats, cut 
in the rock. Paul, when 
cited before them on a 
charge of setting forth 



ARK 



21 



ARM 



strange gods, preached so 
ably that he was dismissed, 
and Diofjysius, one of the 
judges, was converted. Per- 
haps others also. Acts xvii. 

ARIMATHE'A, a city of 
Judea which appears to 
have stood near Bethel. 
Matt, xxvii. 57. The name 
is now Ramla. 

ARK, the vessel built by 
Noah for the preservation 
of his family, &c. during 
the deluge. It is computed, 
from the measurement re- 
corded in Genesis, to have 
been of the burden of more 
than 81,000 tons. It had 
three decks or stories, di- 
vided into numerous stalls 
or apartments for the va- 
rious species of animals, 
<&c. Gen. vi. and vii. 

ARK OF THE COVE- 
NANT, a chest nearly four 
feet in length, of which a 
good idea may be formed 
trom the picture, p. 14. It 
contained the original stone 
tables of the law, Aaron's 
rod that /budded, the pot of 
manna, and in after times 
a copy of the five books of 
Moses. These seem at one 
time to have been kept be- 
fore the ark, 1 Kings viii. 9, 
and at another within it. 
Hebrews ix. 4. During the 
cnptivity these precious ar- 
ticles seem to have been 
lost, except the stone tables. 
The lid of the ark was called 
the mercy-scat ; and be- 



tween the expanded wings 
of the cherubims, rested the 
Shechina like a visible cloud. 

An ark similar to this was 
made for the second temple} 
but it was destitute of the 
sacred contents above-men- 
tioned, and of the Shechina. 

ARMAGED'DON. This 
word is of doubtful import. 
It is thought by Grotius to 
mean the Mount of meeting y 
and signifies the place 
where Constantine with a 
Christian army of 98,000 
men conquered Maxentius 
with an army of 188,000 
heathen, which victory was 
so signal and entire, that 
the church was wholly freed 
from Maxentius' tyranny. 
Rev. xvi. 16. 

ARME'NIA, a country 
north of Mesopotamia, was 
reduced into a Persian pro- 
vince by Cyrus. After the 
days of Alexander it be- 
came free, but was conquer- 
ed by the Romans about half 
a century before Christ, 
and subsequently fell tofhe 
Saracens. It now forms 
part of the Turkish Empire. 
Isa. xxxvii. 38. 

ARMOUR. (1.) A coat of 
mail. Rom. xiii. 12. Not 
being proof against musket 
balls, it has been disused 
since the invention of gun- 
powder. (2.) Weapons of 
war. Those formerly used 
were sword, spear, bow and 
arrow, sling, javelin, &c. 



ASH 



22 



AS I 



ARTAXERX'ES, the' 
name of a race of Persian 
kings, as Ptolemy was of the 
Egyptian. One of them 
was the king who married 
Esther, Est. ii. and commis- 
sioned Ezra and Nehemiah 
to repair the holy city. 

ASA, a good king of Ju- 
dah, who ascended the 
throne about A. M. 3049. 
Respectable chronologists 
reckon that it was in his 
days that the Argonauts 
made the voyage up the 
Hellespont. Neh. ii. 

ASH'TAROTH, Ashto- 
reth, or Astarte, a famed 
goddess of the Zidonians. 
The moon, or queen of 
heaven, was worshipped un- 
der this name. Cicero calls 
her the fourth Venus of 
Syria. Perhaps she is the 
JEstar or Eostre of the Sax- 
ons, from whom the term 
Easter is derived. She is va- 
riously represented ; some- 
times in a long, sometimes 
in a short habit ; some- 
times as holding a long 
stick with a cross at the 
top; sometimes she is 
crowned with rays ; at other 
times with the horns of a 
bull ; which, according to 
Sanchoniathon, were em- 
blems of the new moon. 

Ash'taroth-kar'naim, a 
city belonging to the half- 
tribe of Manasseh, eastward 
of Jordan, about six miles 
from Edrei ; where Chedor- 



laomer smote the gigantic 
Rephaims, and where was 
the residence of Og, king 
of Rashan. Gen. xiv. 5. 

A SI A , as the term is used 
in Scripture, means the 
country lying between the 
Propontis and Euxine, on 
the north ; and the Medi- 
terranean on the south. 
Lesser Asia, Lydia perhaps 
excepted, was originally 
peopled by the offspring of 
Japheth. It was anciently 
parcelled out into many 
small sovereignties, of 
which the kingdoms of 
Troas, Lydia, Pontus, Cap- 
padocia, and the Grecian 
states, were the most noted. 
These first became subject 
to Persia ; then to the 
Greeks, under Alexander ; 
and then to the Romans, to 
whom Atalus the last king 
of this country bequeathed 
his kingdom by will. It 
was w T rested from the Ro- 
mans by the Saracens. The 
ancient capital was Mysia, 
but the Romans made Ephe- 
sus the seat of their govern- 
ment, which they adminis- 
tered first by a Praetor, and 
afterward by a Pro Consul. 
The Saracens were after 
300 years supplanted by 
the Turks, whose cruel bon- 
dage has reduced this fine 
country to almost a desert. 
Driven at length to desper- 
ation, a revolution com- 
menced A. D. 1821, which 



ASS 



23 



ATH 



has, through the interven- 
tion of European powers, 
terminated in favour of the 
oppressed. This is thought 
by some to be the country 
called Isles of the sea, in Old 
Testament prophecies. Isa. 
xlii. 4. Flourishing church- 
es were planted here by the 
apostles, some of which re- 
main till this day, but in a 
deplorable condition. 

AS'KELON,a noble sea- 
port of the Philistines, be- 
tween Gaza and Ashdod. It 
was the birth place of Herod 
the Great. In the time of 
the Crusades it became an 
important post, and was 
greatly improved as well as 
fortified by Richard I. of 
England, It is now a 
wretched village, called 
Scalona, or Scalon. 

ASSURANCE, a firm 
confidence. When Chris- 
tians possess a strong and 
stedfast belief ofGod's grace 
in his Son Jesus, and wholly 
confide in him for salvation, 
it is called the " full assur- 
ance of faith." Heb. x. 22. 
" The full assurance of 
hope," is an undoubting 
expectation of future bless- 
edness. Heb. vi. 11. All 
Christians do not enjoy the 
grace of assurance, but all 
are commanded to obtain it. 
2 Cor. xiii. 5. Heb. vi. 11. 
1 Thess. v. 21. Some have 
certainly enjoyed it. Job 
xix. 25. Psl. xvii. 15. 2 



Tim. i. 12. The only proof 
of its genuineness is a holy 
life. 1 John ii. 3, andiii. 14. 

ASSYR'IA, an ancient 
kingdom, the boundaries of 
which varied greatly in dif- 
ferent ages ; but which is 
generally described as hav- 
ing Armenia on the north, 
Persia on the east and south, 
and the Tigris on the west. 
It was founded by king 
Ninus, who began his reign 
according to Usher, A. M. 
2737, during the period that 
Deborah judged Israel. Its 
chief city was Nineveh. 
Under Tiglath Pileser, and 
his immediate successors 
Salmaneser, Sennacherib, 
Esar-haddon, &c. it was a 
powerful kingdom, 1 Chron. 
v. 26, but was afterward 
annexed to Persia. It is 
now a desolate country, 
and infested with robbers. 
Its present name is Curdis- 
tan. 

ASTROL'OGERS, per- 
sons who pretended to fore- 
tel future events by the 

' ATH'ENS, a very cele- 
brated city of Greece, built 
more than 1200 years before 
the birth of Christ. Cicero 
says its inhabitants perfect- 
ed all learning and elo- 
quence, and from them Hu- 
manity, Learning, Religion, 
and Laws were dispersed 
through the whole world ; 
but he adds, tl they only 



BAA 



24 



BAA 



kneic what was right, but 
would not do it." Plu- 
tarch says they were sus- 
picious and vain-glorious. 
See what Paul says, Acts 
xvii. 16 — 22. It produced 
Solon, Socrates, Aristides, 
Demosthenes, &c. besides 
many renowned generals. 

ATONEMENT, that act 
of the blessed Redeemer, in 
which he satisfied divine 
justice by the sacrifice of 
himself. It is by faith that 
man, convinced of sin, 
looks to the merits and 
death of Jesus Christ, and 
through the operation of the 
Holy Spirit, obtains pardon, 
peace, and holiness. Rom. 
v. 10. 

AZO'TUS, a city in the 
tribe of Dan. Acts viii. 40. 
It was formerly Ashdod of 
the Philistines, where the 
ark of God triumphed over 
Dasron. 1 Sam. v. 2. 



e. 

BA'AL, signifies lord, 
and perhaps in the earliest 
ages was a name applied to 
the true God. It was a 
very common name of the 
male idols among eastern 
nations, as Ashlar oih or As- 
tarte, was for their female 
deities. The Moabites, Phe- 
nicians, Assyrians, Chal- 



deans, and frequently the 
Hebrews, had their Baal, 
which, from his place of 
worship, or supposed office, 
had often distinguishing 
epithets annexed ; as Baal- 
berith, Baal-peor, Baal-ze- 
bub, &c. Often this name 
Baal was a part of the 
names of persons and cities, 
perhaps to signify that the- 
most of them were dedica- 
ted to his service. This the 
pious Hebrews sometimes 
turned into Bosheth, which 
signifies shame ; thus Jerub- 
baal is turned into Jerubosh- 
eth. Judg. vi. 32. 2 Sam. 
xi. 21. Eshbaal into Ish- 
bosheth ; Meribaal into Me- 
phibosheth. Baal is oft 
named Baalim, in the plural, 
because there were many 
Baals ; or at least, many im- 
ages of him. Every sort of 
abominations was commit- 
ted on the festivals of this 
idol, and of Ashtaroth, his 
mate. In his temples was 
kept a perpetual fire ; and 
altars were erected to him 
in groves, high places and 
on the tops of houses. Jer. 
xxxii. 35. 2 Kings xvii. 16. 
The origin of this idolatry 
is very ancient. The Mo- 
abites begun their worship 
of Baal before the days of 
Moses. The Hebrews be- 
gan theirs in his time. Num. 
xxii. 41. Psl. cvi. 23. They 
relapsed into that idolatry 
after the death of Joshua, 



BAB 



25 



BAB 



and under the judges Ehud, 
Gideon, and Jepthah. Judg. 
ii. 13. iii. 7. vi, 25. x. b\ 
Samuel seems to have quite 
abolished the worship of 
this idol from Israel. 1 Sam. 
vii. 4. But Ahab and Jez- 
ebel above 200 years after- 
wards revived it in all its 
abominations ; 450 priests 
were appointed to attend 
his service, and nearly as | 
many for Ashtaroth. It was 
often revived in succeed- 
ing generations, till after 
the captivity, and the es- 
tablishment of synagogues, 
since which the Jews have 
not been addicted to idola- 
try. 

BABEL. In the year of 
the world 1753, that is, 102 
years after the flood, man- 
kind being- all of one lan- 
guage and religion, they 
agreed to erect a tower 
of prodigious extent and 
height. Their design was 
not to secure themselves 
against a second deluge, or 
they had built their tower 
on a high mountain; but 
to get themselves a famous 
character, and to prevent 
their dispersion by the erec- 
tion of a monument which 
should be visible from a 
great distance. No quarries 
being found in that rich soil, 
they made bricks for stone, 
and used slime for mortar. 
Their haughty and rebel- 
lious attempt displeased the 



Lord; and after they had 
worked, it is said, twenty- 
two years, he confounded 
their language. This effect- 
ually stopped the building, 
procured it the name of 
Babel, or Confusion, and 
obliged the offspring of 
Noah to disperse them- 
selves, and replenish the 
world. 

BAB'YLON, the name of 
the capital city of Chaldea, 
and is often given to the 
whole empire. Isaiah xii. 
9 — 11. It was a city of 
astonishing magnificence, 
built perfectly square, with 
the streets running at right 
angles. The Euphrates ran 
through the midst, from 
north to south. The statue 
of Jupiter Belus^m. the great 
temple here, is thought to 
have been the same that 
Nebuchadnezzar erected in 
the plain of Dura. Dan. iii. 
The famous " hanging gar- 
dens," as they are termed, 
did not hang literally, but 
were a succession of ter- 
races raised on arches of 
increasing height, till they 
reached the level of the top 
of the city wall, which was 
350 feet high. Nimrod 
founded this city; Belus 
enlarged it ; and Nebuchad- 
nezzar perfected and beauti- 
fied it. During the reign 
of this monarch Judea was 
annexed to the territory of 
Babylon, and all the nobles 



BAB 



26 



BAL 



and chief men withdrew 
thence and settled in Baby- 
lonia, This occurred about 
A. M. 3420, and is called in 
Jewish history the Baby- 
lonish Captivity. Babylon 
was captured and ravaged 
by Cyrus, A.M. 3468; and 
was subsequently still more 
injured by Darius and Xer- 
xes. In the time of our 
Saviour, it had been wholly 
abandoned. The course of 
the Euphrates is now chang- 
ed, aud the spot on which 
Babylon stood cannot be 
found ! Isa. xiii. xiv. xxi. 
xlvi. and xlvii. Jer. 1. &c. 
The striking accomplish- 
ment of prophecy in the 
conquest, decline, and deso- 
lation of Babylon, is shown 
in a very interesting man- 
ner, by M. Rollin. Ancient 
History, Vol. II, 

A chief cause of the total 
ruin of Babylon, was the 
building of Seleucia, 45 
miles southward, on the 
banks of the Tigris, some 
times called New Babylon, 
which became the capital of 
Babylonia, and in time ut- 
terly supplanted the old 
citjr. Here the famous 
Babylonish Talmud,* was 
compiled. It dwindled into 



*The Jews have two Talmuds ,• 
one of Jerusalem, the other of Bab- 
ylon, so called from the places where 
they were written. These are com- 
pilations of their tradiiionai-y law 
with comments. 



insignificance about the 
days of our Saviour, and 
finally fell into ruins. The 
present city of Bagdad 
stands upon its site. It was 
founded A. D. 762, by the 
Saracens, and continued to 
be the seat of their Caliphs, 
for 500 years. It then ex- 
perienced various changes 
till A. D,1638, when it fell 
into the hands of the Turks, 
who still retain it. Though 
greatly reduced from its 
splendour and size, when 
under the Saracens, it still 
has a great trade, especially 
to Persia ; and a population 
of 20,000 inhabitants. The 
Greeks and Catholics have 
convents here. 

Babylon the Great, 
is a symbolical term, used 
in the New Testament, 
chiefly in the Revelations ; 
generally considered to 
mean Rome ; 1 Pet. v, 13, 
or the popish kingdom and 
church. Rev. xvi. xvii. and 
xviii. 

BACKSLIDER, one who 
gradually falls back from his 
religious ardour and en- 
gagements. When this be- 
comes total, it is called 
Apostacy, Pro v. xiv. 14. 
Jer. viii. 5, 

BA'LAAM, an ancient 
prophet, who became very 
wicked, and practised in- 
cantations. Numb. xxii. 
xxiii. xxiv. He counselled 
Moab to seduce Israel to 



BAP 



27 



BEE 



sin, that they might bring 
that curse on themselves 
which he could not inflict. 
Numb. xxxi. 16. To be 
anxious to get gain, though 
by wickedness, is called 
" the way of Balaam. " 
2 Pet. ii. 15. Allowing of 
imcleanness, is called " the 
doctrine of Balaam." Rev. 
ii. 14. 

BALM, a resin or balsam, 
extracted from the balm- 
tree, which grows in va- 
rious parts of Arabia and 
Canaan. The estimation in 
which it was held as a 
medicinal drug, is not only 
appirent from Scripture, 
but Pliny, Strabo, JDiodorus, 
Siculus, Tacitus, Justin, 
Solinus, and others, cele- 
brate its virtues as such. 
That of Gilead was reckon- 
ed the best. The Arabs 
sold of it to the Egyptians, 
and the Jews to the Tyrians. 
Gen. xxx vii. 25. Ezek. 
xxvii. 17. Its specific grav- 
ity is lighter than water. 
The taste is bitter. It is 
no longer cultivated in Pal- 
estine. But so lately as 
1766, Mariti saw it growing 
in the plain of Jericho, and 
describes the process of ob- 
taining the balsam. 

BAPTIZE, to administer 
the ordinance of baptism, 
whereby a person is admit- 
ted into church fellowship. 
Matt, xxviii. 19. Acts viii. 
36—39. Rom. vi. 3—5, &c. 



BARLEY, a well known 
grain, now used principally 
for malt liquor, but ancient- 
ly for cattle and to make 
coarse bread. 1 Kings iv. 
26. 2 Kings iv. 22. John vi. 
8—10. 

BA'SHAN, orBATAMA, 
one of the most fruitful 
countries in the world, ly- 
ing cliiefly within the lot of 
Manasseh, eastward of Jor- 
dan. Numbers, xxxii. 33, 
Besides villages, it contain- 
ed sixty fenced cities. It 
was peculiarly famous for 
its rich pasture, excellent 
flocks and herds, and state- 
ly oaks. Ezek. xxxix. 18, 

BATH, a Hebrew meas- 
ure containing one tenth 
part of a homer. It seems 
to be the same as the Epha. 

BDEL'LIUM is usually 
considered to be a fragrant 
gum produced in the east. 
Bochart considers it to be 
the pearl; Reland calls it 
crystal. Genesis ii. 12, 
Numb.xi. 7, 
BEEL'ZEBUB, the prince 
of flies, or god of Ekrork, 
worshipped as having pow- 
er over all hurtful insects. 
The name is applied in the 
New Testament to Satan. 
Matt. x. 25. xii. 24. Luke 
xi. 15—19. 

BEER'SHEBA, a city in 
the southern extremity of 
Canaan, as Dan was in the 
northern. Hence the ex- 
pression a from Dau to 



BEL 



28 



BER 



Beersheba," which often 
occurs in the Bible, meant 
the whole land. 

BEETLE, a genus of in- 
sects, of which there are 
many species. The Egyp- 
tians paid it divine honours, 
and we still find its image 
on their obelisks. It is 
mentioned only in Leviti- 
cus xi. 22. 

BEHEMOTH. Sacred 
critics are not agreed wheth- 
er this is the elephant or 
hippopotamus ; the proba- 
bility seems to lean toward 
the former. Elephants are 
so often exhibited through 
the country, that it is need- 
less to describe them here. 

BEIROOT, or Bayrout, 
is a place, which, though 
not mentioned in Scripture, 
deserves a place here, from 
its having become the chief 
seat of the late mission to 
the Holy Land. It is a sea- 
port on the Mediterranean, 
14 miles north-eastof Sidon, 
and 137 miles north from 
Jerusalem ; and has 8,000 
inhabitants. The Roman 
Catholics have long main- 
tained a mission here, as 
they have also in many 
other parts of this country. 
BELIEVE, to have a firm 
trust and confidence in the 
truth of a report. To be- 
lieve the Gospel, is to have 
a full persuasion of the di- 
vine authority of its doc- 
trines, and a determined 



resolution, by the grace o 
God, to obey its precepts — 
To receive, and rely upon 
Christ for life and salvation. 
John i. 12. Rom. ix. 33. 
A bare assent to gospel 
truths is sometimes called 
belief. Acts viii. 13. 

BE LSH AZ'Z AR, a profli- 
gate king of Babylon, who 
reigned 17 years, and was 
stabbed to death by some 
soldiers of Darius on the 
night of his guilty feast. 
Daniel v. His kingdom 
thenceforth passed over to 
the Medes and Persians. 

BERE'A,acity of Mace- 
donia, very populous in the 
days of Paul. Acts xvii. It 
now bears the name of 
Veria. 

BERNPCE,the daughter 
of Agrippa the Great. She 
was first betrothed to Mark, 
son of Alexander, governor 
of the Jews at Alexandria. 
She however married her 
own uncle, Herod, king of 
Chalcis. After his death, 
she married PoLEMON,king 
of Ponius. but abandoned 
him, and returning to Agrip- 
pa, her brother, lived with 
him in incest. They sat 
with pomp to hear Paul 
preach. Acts xxv. 

BER'YL, a precious 
stone, resembling, in many 
points, the emerald. Its 
size varies exceedingly, 
some being not larger than 
a hair, while some have 



BET 



29 



BIB 



been found a foot long, and 
3 or 4 inches in diameter. 
The ordinary size is about 
that of a large pea. The col- 
our is a fine blue, often bor- 
dering on green. In its 
perfect state, it is about as 
hard as the garnet. Found 
chiefly in the East Indies, 
and South America. 

BESTEAD, an obsolete 
word for conditioned or dis- 
posed. Isa. viii. 21 

BETHEL, literally " the 
house of God." The place 
which was so named by 
Jacob, Gen. xxviii. 19, was 
where Abram had pitched 
his tent, Gen. xii. 8. Jacob 
afterward resided here. 
Gen. xxxv. 6. It afterward 
became the site of an im- 
portant city. Though it was 
called Lus when Abram 
dwelt there, Moses calls it 
Bsthel, because in his day it 
was only known by that 
name. It was about 10 
miles north of Jerusalem. 

BETHES'DA, a pool on 
the east of Jerusalem. The 
name signifies a house of 
mercy ; so called because a 
public bath was here erect- 
ed, or because God gracious- 
ly bestowed healing virtue 
on the pool. As it lay near 
the temple, the sacrifices 
might be washed in it ; but 
it did not thence derive its 
virtue. John v. 9. 

BETH'LEHEM,acityof 
Judah, about six miles south 



of Jerusalem. It is also 
called Ephratah and Eph- 
rathy its inhabitants Ephra- 
thites, from its founder. It 
was considerable only for 
giving birth to Ibzan, Elime- 
lech, Boaz, David, and chief- 
ly to the Messiah. Mic. v. 
2. It is said now to contain 
more than 1000 inhabitants, 
the most of whom are nom- 
inal Christians. Its present 
name is Beet-la-hm. 

BETH'PAGE,a small vil- 
lage belonging to the priests. 
It was hard by Bethany, 
and nearly two miles east of 
Jerusalem. Here our Sa- 
viour obtained the ass for his 
lowly triumph. Mat. xxi.l. 
BETHSA'IDA, literally, 
a place of fishing ; a city of 
Galilee, on the west coast of 
the sea of Tiberias. It was 
the residence of Philip, An- 
drew, and Peter. John i. 44. 
It had a wo pronounced 
against it by Christ, and was 
one of the first places ravag- 
ed by the Romans. Matt, 
xi. 21. It is now called 
Batsida. Some think there 
was another place of this 
name on the opposite coast, 
near the entrance of the 
Jordan. 

BIBLE. This word, which 
does not occur in Scripture, 
means literally The Book. 
See Scripture. An excel- 
lent article on the word can 
be found in Buck's Theolog- 
ical Dictionary. 



BIR 



30 



BIT 



BIRDS were created on 
the fifth day. Like all other 
creatures, they are wonder- 
fully adapted to their mode 
of life. Such as chiefly fly, 
have very large wings. 
Such as wade in the mud ; . 
have long legs bare, of feath- 
ers. Such as swim, have 
webbed feet. Such as bore 
trees for insects, have strong 
round bills. Such as live 
on prey, have crocked bills, 
to tear flesh. Such as rise 
high in the air, have eyes 
capable of seeing the small- 
est worm from a great 
height. Such as grope for 
their food in the mud, where 
it cannot be seen, have flat 
bills with the nerves run- 
ning down to the very end, 
so that they have as delicate 
a sense of feeling there, as 
we have in our fingers. 
Many other proofs of the 
wisdom and goodness of 
God are found in the study 
of ornithology, as this sub- 
ject is called. They are 
classed by naturalists by 
referring to their bills, feet, 
&c. Under the Jewish dis- 
pensation, they were divid- 
ed into clean and unclean. 
It may be observed in gen- 
eral, that such as fed on 
grain or seeds, were clean, 
while such as ate flesh, fish, 
or carrion, were prohibited. 
The following is a list of the 
unclean — the rest were al- 
lowed to be eaten. The 



modern names are added on 
the authority of the editor 
of Calmet's Dictionary. 

Birds of the Mr. 

Eagle, Eagle. 

Ossifrage, Vulture, 

Ospray, Black Eagle, 

Vulture, Hawk. 

Kite, Kite. 

Raven, Raven. 

Birds of the Land. 

Owl, Ostrich. 

!Night Hawk, Night Owl. 

Cuckoo, Sai'-saf. 

Hawk, Ancient Ibis. 

Birds of the Water. 
Little Owl, Sea Gull. 

Cormorant, Cormorant. 

Great Owl, Ibis Ardea. 

Swan, Wild Goose. 

Pelican, Pelican. 

Gier Eagle, Alcyone. 

Stork, Stork. 

Heron, Longneck. 

Lapwing, Hoopoe. 

Vnio L ue. 
Bat, Bat. 

BISHOP, a shepherd, or 
overseer. In the New Tes- 
tament the word means a 
spiritual overseer, having 
the charge of souls, to in- 
struct and guide them by 
the word. It seems to be 
synonymous with Elder, or 
Presbyter. Acts xx. com- 
pare the 17th and 20th ver- 
ses. Titus i. 5—7. 1 Pet. 
v. 1,2. The word is ap- 
plied to Christ himself. 
1 Pet. ii. 25. 

BITHYN'IA, a province 
on the south of the Euxine 
sea, west ofPontusand Ga- 
latia. north of Asia Proper, 
and east of the Propontis, 



BIT 



31 



BLA 



supposed to have been set- j after Christ. Indeed there 
tied by Thracians. It was are still a few Christians in 



formerly called Mygdonia. 
It was famed in the time of 
the Argonautic expedition, 
which might be during the 
reign of Rehoboam, if not 
earlier." The metropolis 
was Nicomedia, a city 
famous not only under the 
kings of Bithynia, but also 
under the Emperors of 
Rome, particularly Diocle- 
tian who had a palace there, 
the destruction of which by 
fire occasioned the tenth 
general persecution of 
Christians. Its other im- 
portant cities were Prusa, 
Nice, Libyssa and Therma. 
Chalcedon, an ancient city 
in this country situated on 
the Bosphorus, which divid- 
ed Europe from Asia, was 
famous for the council 
which met in it, and com- 
demned the Eutychian her- 
esy. At a very early period 
Christianity was here plant- 
ed, and a number of Jews 
and others believed. 1 Pe- 
ter i. ] . Historians trace a 
church here for 1000 years 



*The Argonautic Expedition is an 
era in ancient history rendered im- 
portant, by the frequency of refer- 
ence made to it by early writers. 
Sir Isaac Newton laboured to as- 
certain the exact date of it, and 
thence to rectify and settle all an- 
cient chronology. A sufficient ac- 
count jf this voyage may be found in 
Gillies'' History of Greece, or any 
Encyclopedia under the word. 



the place. It is now called 
Becksangilj and sometimes 
Bursia. 

BITTERN, a fowl of the 
heron kind. It is common 
in fenny countries, skulks 
among the reeds and sedges; 
and ordinarily stands with 
its neck and beak straight 
upward. It suffers people 
to come very near it; and 
if unable to escape, will 
strike at them. It flies 
mostly in the dusk of the 
evening, and makes a plan- 
tive noise among the reeds. 
Nineveh and Babylon be- 
came a possession for the 
bittern, when the spot was 
partly turned into a fen or 
pool of water. Isaiah xiv. 
23, and xxxi. 11. Zeph. ii. 
14. 

BLASPHEME, to re- 
proach and revile God, by 
denying or ridiculing his 
perfections, word, or ordi- 
nances, and by ascribing to 
him any thing base or sin- 
ful. Tit. ii. 5. Rev. xiii. 6. 
What the unpardonable 
blasphemy against the Holy 
Ghost is, has been much 
controverted. The occa- 
sion of Christ's mentioning 
it, Matt. xii. 21—31, has in- 
duced many to think that it 
consists only in ascribing 
his miracles to diabolical 
influence; but when we 
consider also, Heb. vi. 4, 5, 



BOD' 



32 



BOO 



and x. 26 — 30, it appears 
that an obstinate and ma- 
licious rejection of Christ, 
and salvation through him, 
notwithstanding strong con- 
victions of the Holy Ghost, 
is an unpardonable sin. 

BLESS, to make happy, 
which, properly, is the act 
of God alone, the author of 
every bles-ing. God bless- 
es, especially, by the rich 
provision which he has 
made in his glorious plan of 
redemption, in the supplies 
of his grace, and by the 
gifts of his Holy Spirit, 
whereby man is enabled to 
serve him acceptably in this 
world, and to receive a 
meetness for that eternal 
inheritance in heaven, 
where he will be perfectly 
happy in the enjoyment of 
God forever. This word is 
often used in an inferior 
sense, and man is said to 
bless God, when, with a 
grateful heart, he praises 
him for benefits received, 
and lives to his glory. He 
may be said to bless his 
fellow creatures, when he 
wishes them every good, 
and uses his best endeavours 
to promote their happiness. 

BOANER'GES, sons of 
thunder. The sons of Zeb- 
edee are called so because 
vehement in their feelings, 
and powerful in their 
preaching. Mark iii. 17. 

BODY, the material parti 



of man. It signifies the 
church of God, which is the 
mystical body of Christ. 1 
Cor. x. 17. Col. i. 18. In 
the Lord's Supper, the bread 
is called the body of Christ, 
that is, the representation of 
his body, and is received as 
a memorial of his sufferings, 
and the pledge of all the 
benefits purchased by his 
death. 

BOLL'ED, a word which 
occurs but once in the Bible, 
viz. Ex. ix. 31, " The flax 
was boiled," which seems 
to mean that it was neatly 
ripe, and the round seed 
vessels fullv developed. 

BONNET, a covering for 
the head of the Hebrew 
priests, made of linen, some- 
what in the form of a turban. 
That of the high priest was 
adorned with gold and 
fronted with the plate in- 
scribed " Holiness to the 
Lord." Ex. xxviii. 40. 

BOOK, a volume written 
or printed. The different 
parts of Scripture are called 
books. They are separate in 
their nature,but harmonious 
among themselves. They 
were at first written and cir- 
culated separate!}-, some- 
thing as tracts are now. 
Formerly plates of lead 
and copper, the bark of 
trees, thinbricks, stone, and 
wood, were used to write on. 
Hesiod's works were writ- 
ten on lead ; God's law on 




A LEATHERN BOTTLE, 

As used in Eastern countries 



BOO 



35 



BRA 



stone ; and the laws of So- 
lon on planks. When these 
last were used they were 
generally covered with a 
thin coat of wax, for ease 
both in writing and in blot- 
ting oat, which explains the 
expression of David when 
he prays that his sins may 
be blotted out as a cloud, 
i. e. the record of them. 
Palm leaves, being more 
convenient as to bulk and 
portableness, were after- 
ward made into books, and 
are still so used in India. 
Then the thin inner bark of 
trees, especially the elm ; 
hence the Latin word liber, 
(the inner bark $fa tree,) 
means also a book. After- 
wards the Papyrus, or " pa- 
per reed," was used. Isaiah 
xix. 7. Parchment was af- 
terward invented in Perga- 
mos. Books of these two 
last substances were rolled 
on sticks like cloth, and 
hence the word volume, 
from the Latin word volvo, 
to roll. Paper, such as we 
now use, was invented a- 
bout nine hundred years 
ago, and printing was in- 
vented about four hundred 
years ago. See Paper. 

Book of Life, signifies 
God's recognition of his 
people, and secure remem- 
brance of them, and is an 
allusion to the registers 
kept in cities of the names 
of all the regular citizens. 



Phil. iv. 3. Honourable 
persons, not citizens, were 
sometimes entered here, 
which was giving the free- 
dom of the city. Vagabonds 
and disorderly persons had 
their names erased. Rev, 
iii. 5, 

BOOTH, a shelter gen- 
erally made of forked poles 
driven into the ground, cov- 
ered with green boughs, 
Lev. xxiii. 42. During the 
feast of tabernacles, the 
Jews resorted to the country 
and set up booths- Neh* 
viii. 14. 

BORDER of the Gar- 
ment. See Phylacteries. 
BOTTLE. Anciently, 
bottles were made of leather^ 
as glass was unknown, 
The skin oi a goat, pulled 
off whole, and the places 
where the legs were, being 
tied up, formed a conve- 
nient bottle, as shown by 
the engraving. As they 
grew tender by using, new 
wine, which had not done 
fermenting, could not be 
safely put in them. Matt, 
ix. 17. David in distress 
compares himself to a bottle 
in the smoke, dried up and 
withered. Psl. cxix. 83. 

BRASS, a word of fre- 
quent occurrence in the Bi- 
ble. As it is well known 
that this compound metal 
was first made in Germany, 
only six or seven hundred 
years ago, it seems much 



BRI 



36 



BUR 



more proper to translate the 
Hebrew word nehesi, copper. 
Iron and copper were 
known before the flood. 

BREAST-PLATE, apart 
of the high-priest's holy ap- 
parel. It was about 10 inch- 
es square, and consisted of 
12 gems, set in gold, each 
gem representing a tribe of 
Israel. They were set in 
four rows. In the upper- 
most were a sardius, topaz, 
and carbuncle, for Reuben. 
Simeon, and Levi ; in the 
second, an emerald, sap- 
phire, and diamond, for Ju- 
dah, Dan, and Naphtali ; 
in the third, a ligure, an 
agate, and amethyst, for 
Gad, Asher, and Issachar ; 
in the lowest, a beryl, onyx, 
and jasper, for Zebulun, 
Joseph, and Benjamin. The 
reader will find these stones 
described under their re- 
spective names. This breast- 
plate was fastened to the 
embroidered ephod of the 
high priest, so as to hang 
upon his bosom, and was 
worn only on appointed oc- 
casions. It was called a 
*' memorial," because it 
taught the priest to bear his 
people on his heart before 
God, and reminded the 
people of the blessing of the 
ministry. 

BRIGANDINE, an an- 
cient kind of mail, worn in 
battle, to secure the soldiers 
from sword cuts. 



BULRUSH. See Paper. 
BURNT-OFFERING. A 

"whole burnt-offering,"was 
a sacrifice in which the vic- 
tim was wholly consumed 
on the altar. A " burnt-of- 
fering" was the fat of the 
intestines and kidneys, and 
the fat tail of sheep, burnt 
after being sprinkled with 
salt; the riiiht fore quarter 
was the portion of the priest, 
and the rest was given back 
to the offerer, who common- 
ly ate it as a feast, and in- 
vited widows, orphans, Le- 
vites. &c. to partake. 

BURY. The Hebrews 
were careful to bury even 
their enemies. 1 Kings xi. 
J 5. Ezek. xxxix. 14. The 
troublesome pollution of 
dead bodies required it. To 
be depraved of burial, or cast 
into an unclean place, they 
reckoned a terrible calami- 
ty. When one died, if his 
friends were able, he was 
embalmed, and after a prop- 
er time, carried out to his 
grave on a bier, if poor ; or 
on a stately bed, if rich, 
and laid as in a bed, in the 
grave. The dead bodies 
were arrayed in clothes ; 
but from the resurrection of 
Lazarus, and other evi- 
dence, it appears they were 
not buried in coffins, as is 
the manner with us. To 
be " buried with Christ in 
baptism," imports our mor- 
tification of sin, by virtue 



CJES 



87 



C^ES 



of fellowship with him in 
his death, represented in our 
baptism. Rom. vi. 4. Col. 
ii. 12. 



CAB, or Kab, a Hebrew 
measure, containing the 18th 
part of an ephah, equal to 
our quart. 2 Kings vi. 25. 
In giving the capacity of 
Hebrew measures, authors 
are followed who seem most 
reasonable ; but it is a sub- 
ject on which, at this distance 
of time, rests great uncer- 
tainty. 

CiESAR, a name which 
after becoming dignified in 
the person of Julius Ccesar, 
was the appellation of his 
successors on the throne. 
The emperors mentioned, or 
alluded to by this title in the 
New Testament, are Au- 
gustus, Luke ii. 1, Tibe- 
rius, Luke iii. 1, and xx. 
22 — 25, Claudius, Acts xi. 
28, and Nero, Acts xxv. 8. 
The reader will do well to 
look out these passages, and 
where the distinctive title is 
not found in the text, to write 
it in the margin of his Bible. 
It is remarkable that Cali- 
gula, who succeeded Ti- 
berius, is not mentioned. 

C^SARE'A is on the 
coast of the Mediterranean, 
about sixty miles from Je- 
rusalem. Anciently it was 



a small town, called the 
Tower of Strato, and had an 
inconvenient, exposed har- 
bour. Herod the Great buill 
a noble breakwater, enlarg- 
ed and beautified the place, 
and called it Caesarea, in 
honour of the emperor, his 
patron. Eusebius, the his- 
torian, was born here, Here 
Cornelius lived, Acts x. 1 ; 
here Agrippa was smitten of 



is ; and her 



Agabu? 



foretold Paul's imprison- 
ment. Acts xxi, 10, 11. This 
is the Caesarea mentioned 
also in the following places. 
Acts viii. 40. ix. 30. xii. 19. 
xxi. 8. xxiii. 23, 33. xxv. 4, 
13. It is now wholly deserted 
and desolate ; and its ruins 
have long been resorted to 
for building materials requir- 
ed at Accho. The present 
name of the place is Kaisa- 
via. 

OffiSARE'A PHILIP'PI 
is thought by many geogra- 
phers to be the same city 
called Laisk, or Dan, in the 
Old Testament. If this be 
not the case, it certainly 
stood not far from thence. 
It was enlarged and embel- 
lished by Philip the Te- 
trarch ; and hence its double 
name — he choosing to hon- 
our Tiberius Caesar and 
himself. It was the resi- 
dence of the woman healed 
of the issue of blood. Mat. ix, 
20. It is now an inconsider- 
able village, called Banias. 



CAM 



S8 



CAM 



CAL'AMUS, an exceed- 
ingly fragrant reed or cane, 
common in the cast, and 
growing to the height of two 
or three feet. Its essence 
constituted one of the ingre- 
dients of the holy anointing 
oil. Ex. xxx. 23. Ezek. 
xxvii. 19. 

CALLING, any lawful 
employment. 1 Cor. vii. 20. 
The general invitation to 
repentance, by the ministry, 
by providence, or hy the mo- 
tions of the Holy Spirit on 
the consciences of men, 
whereby they are warned 
of their danger, and taught 
the need of a Saviour. Isa. 
xxii. 12. Matt. xxii. 14. 
That more particular invi- 
tation by the preaching of 
the word, and effectual ope- 
ration of the Holy Spirit, 
whereby sinners know, be- 
lieve, and obey the Gospel. 
Horn, xi. 29. 

CALVARY, or Golgo- 
tha, " the Place of Skulls.'' 
A small hill, on the north side 
of Mount Zion, so called, 
either from its being in the 
shape of a man's head, or 
because it was a place of 
execution, which among the 
Romans as well as Jews, 
was often done by behead- 
ing. Jud. ix. 5. Matt. xiv. 
10. The empress Helena 
built a noble church on this 
spot, which still exists. 

CAMEL, an animal be- 
longing to the same genus 



as the dromedary, lama, and 
pacos. It is a native of Asia, 
lives between forty and fifty 
years, subsists on poor and 
scanty herbage, endures as- 
tonishing labours and intense 
heat, can go for many days 
without water, and is ex- 
tremely docile and patient. 
Of the coarse part of its hair, 
is made sackcloth, Rev. vi. 
12, and of the finest parts, 
beautiful shawls, &c. It is 
the great dependence of the 
Arabs, for food, clothing" and 
labour. No other animal 
would at all supply its place. 
Job, after his affliction, had 
six thousand camels. 

CAMP. In the camp of 
the Hebrews in the desert, 
the tabernacle was placed 
in the midst. Moses, Aaron, 
and their families, had their 
tents on the east of it, which 
was considered the front. 
On the south pitched the 
Kohathites ; on the west, 
the Gershonites ; on the 
north, the Merarites. Thus 
it was encompassed by the 
Levites. Beyond the tents 
of Moses and the priests, on 
the east, was the camp of 
Judah, to which belonged 
Issachar and Zebulun ; on 
the south, of Reuben, to 
which belonged Simeon and 
Gad ; on the w T est, of 
Ephraim, with Manasseh, 
and Benjamin ; on the north, 
of Dan, with Asher, and 
Naphtali. Before com- 



CAM 



CAN 



mencing a march, which 
was only when the cloud 
moved from over the taber- 
nacle, the people had three 
warnings by the silver 
trumpets; one, to pack up 
baggage ; a second, to as- 
semble to the standards ; 
and a third, to begin the 
march. The camp of Ju- 
dah marched 6rst; the tab- 
ernacle was then taken 
down ; and the Gershonites 
and Merarites, laying the 
various materials on wag- 
gons, followed. Next the 
camp of Reuben marched; 
the Kohathites followed, 
with the more sacred fur 
niture of the tabernacle on 
their shoulders. Next fol- 
lowed the camp of Ephraim ; 
and that of Dan brought up 
the rear. Numb. i. ii. iv. x. 
CAMPHIRE, a white 
translucent vegetable prod- 
uct, of a highly fragrant 
odour, and aromatic taste. 
It is procured from two 
species of trees, one of 
which grows in Japan ; the 
other, from which the best 
and largest portion of the 
drug is obtained, grows 
wild in Borneo and Sumatra. 
These trees are of the laurel 
species,* but of astonishing 
magnitude, some attaining, 
it is said, a height of two 
hundred feet, and propor- 
tionably thick. The blossoms 
diffuse a powerful and de- 
licious fragrance, and are 



much used to adorn baths 
and dwellings. Turkish and 
Egyptianladiesuse the pow- 
der of the dried leaves to 
give a red tinge to their nails, 
a practice of great antiquity. 

CA'N A AN, the Scripture 
name of what is now called 
Palestine, or the Holy 
Land. Its name was de- 
rived from Canaan, w T hose 
posterity settled here, and 
remained for about seven 
hundred years. Becoming 
enormously corrupt, they 
were devoted to destruction, 
and their land given to Is- 
rael. Its conquest is re- 
corded in the book of Josh- 
ua, &c. after which it was 
called " The Land of Israel." 
Its boundaries, as generally- 
laid down, are, Lebanon on 
the north, Arabia on the 
east, Idumea on the south, 
and the sea on the west. 
Under David and Solomon, 
its extent was greatly in- 
creased, by the conquest of 
Ammon, Moab, Edom, &c. 
1 Kings iv. 21—24. It was 
a most beautiful and fertile 
country, and the Jews mul- 
tiplied in it to an astonishing 
degree. 

Under Rehoboam, a dread- 
ful rending asunder of the 
kingdom took place, which 
made Judah and Benjamin 
one kingdom, and the re- 
maining ten tribes another. 
1 Kings xii. Jerusalem 
continued the metropolis of 



CAN 



40 



CAN 



Judah and Benjamin ; and 
this kingdom adhered to the 
true God, and his proper 
worship. Samaria became 
the metropolis of Israel, and 
that people worshipped 
golden calves at Bethel and 
Dan. These separate king- 
doms were often at war, to 
their unspeakable detriment, 
and were often devastated by 
foreign enemies. At last, 
about721 years before Christ, 
the kingdom of Israel was 
entirely overthrown by Shal- 
inaneser, king of Assyria, 
after it had stood about two 
hundred and fifty-four years, 
and has never since been re- 
stored. Judah survived as 
a kingdom about one hun- 
dred and thirty years longer, 
and was then B. C. 590, en- 
tirely conquered by Nebu- 
chadnezzar, king of Babylon, 
who carried away with him 
the most important of the 
people. 

After a captivity of seven- 
ty years, they returned grad- 
ually; their temple and city, 
which had laid in ruins, were 
rebuilt, and they enjoyed 
peace as a province of Persia. 
When that monarchy was 
overthrown by Alexander, 
Judea (as the whole of Ca- 
naan was then called) sub- 
mitted to the conqueror. Af- 
ter Alexander's death, this 
country was sometimes sub- 
ject to Syria, and sometimes 
to Egypt, and for a time as- 



serted and maintained its in- 
dependence, under John 
Hyrcanus and his succes- 
sors. It however was forc- 
ed afterward to submit to 
the victorious Romans, who 
divided it into provinces, and 
set over them such rulers as 
they pleased. These prov- 
inces, at the time of Christ, 
were Judea, Samaria, and 
Galilee. There was also a 
province on the north, called 
Percea, and one on the south, 
called Idumcea, which were 
considered as belonging to 
Palestine. It continued thus,, 
in possession of much peace 
and prosperity, till the spirit 
of revolt drew on it the ven- 
geance of the Romans, who, 
under Titus, destroyed Je- 
rusalem, and terminated 
wholly the existence of the 
Jews as a nation. 

Since that period, Israel- 
ites have been found in al- 
most every commercial part 
of the world, and not a few 
have ever continued on the 
soil of their forefathers; but 
their once beautiful land has 
been constantly suffering 
under the horrors of servi- 
tude and frequent wars. The 
Saracens, Crusaders, Mam- 
elukes, and Turks, have ru- 
led it in succession ; and un- 
der these last masters, who 
have possessed it since the 
year 1317, its sterility and 
desolation have constantly 
increased. Its once noble 



CAP 



41 



CAP 



cities are now poor villages, 
and most of its former vil- 
lages are utterly extinct. 

The territory is now divid- 
ed into two districts, viz. 
Acre, comprising the sea- 
board, and Damascus, em- 
bracing the remainder ; each 
of which is governed by a 
Pacha, or Bashaw. The 
population is now very mix- 
ed, consisting of Turks, 
(who hold all the chief of- 
fices,) Syrians, Bedoun 
Arabs, Jews, Copts, Druses, 
and Christians. The last 
are generally, Roman Cath- 
olics, Greeks, and Arme- 
nians. Many monks reside 
here, and most of the chief 
towns have convents. 

CAPER'NAUM, a prin- 
cipal city of Galilee. It 
stood on the western shore 
of the sea of Tiberias, in the 
border of Zebuiun and 
Naphtali, not far from Beth- 
saida. It received its name 
from a clear fountain adja- 
cent. Here Christ resided 
and taught, and here Mat- 
thew was called. It is now 
called Talkume. 

CAPHTOR is thought by 
Bochart to be the same as 
Cappadocia ; but by Calmet, 
to be Crete. Deut. ii. 23. 

CAPPADG'CIA, a pro- 
vince in the north-eastern 
part of Asia Minor, peopled 
by the descendants of To- 
garmah, and once forming 
part of the kingdom of Lydia. 

i) 



It was famous for horse*, 
mules, and flocks ; and trad- 
ed in these with the Tyrians. 
Ezek. xxvii. 14. According 
to Herodotus, it submitted 
to the Medes, and (hen to 
the Persians, parts of whose 
worship the inhabitants in- 
corporated with their own 
idolatry. It afterward form- 
ed part of the vast Roman 
Empire. Christianity was 
introduced here in the days 
of the Apostles, Acts ii. 9, 
and continues to this day. 
At the village of Dacora in 
this province was born 
Eunomius the Arian. Some 
of its early pastors were very 
distinguished for piety and 
learning. 

CAPTIVITY, the state of 
a person who is at the com- 
mand of another, and com- 
pelled to obey his will. God 
often punished the vices and 
infidelity of his people by the 
different captivities, into 
which they were permitted 
to fall. The most remarka- 
ble instances are the Assyr- 
ian captivity, 2 Kings xviii. 
9 — 12, and the Babylonish 
captivity, Jer. xxv. 12. It 
is generally believed that 
there was no return from 
the former captivity, and 
that the ten tribes never 
came back again after their 
dispersion. He " led cap- 
tivity captive," Eph. iv. 8 ; 
that is, our Lord Jesus 
Christ, by his victory over 



CAR 



42 



CAR 



death, Satan, and sin, con- 
quered and triumphed over 
rU our spiritual enemies and 
oppressors Psalms lxviii. 
18. Rom. vii. 23. 2 Tim. ii 
26. 

CAR'BUNCLE, a pre- 
cious stone of great beauty, 
next in value to the dia- 
mond. It is rarely found, 
and as yet only in the East 
Indies. It is of a bright red 
colour, shining in the dark, 
commonly of the size of a 
small pea. Ezek. xxviii. 13. 
CAR'CHEMISH, a city 
of Mesopotamia, thought to 
be the same as the ancient 
Cir cesium, the modern name 
of which is Ker-kish. 2 
Chron. xxxv. 20. 

CARE, anxious thought, 
or extraordinary, cautious 
concern. Man's care is 
lawful when he endeavours 
to please God, mourns for 
his sins, and regulates his 
conduct by the word of God ; 
when he is concerned about 
the welfare of others, and 
solicitous for the salvation of 
their souls ; or when he 
moderately takes thought for 
the things of this present life, 
resigning himself, at the 
same time, to the will of 
God, 2 Cor. vii. 11,12. But 
it is unlawful when he is 
careful about forbidden 
things, and makes " provis- 
ion for the flesh to fulfil the 
lusts thereof; or when he 
has a perplexing care about 



lawful things, to the neglect 
of the worship of God, and 
distrust of his providence. 
Phil. iv. 6. 

CARMEL, though gener- 
ally spoken of as a single 
mountain, is a range of hills, 
ending in a promontory, 
which forms the bay of Acre. 
The district was lamed for 
fine timber and pasturage. 
2 Kings xix. 23. The cave 
is still shown, in which it is 
said Elijah resided. There 
was another Carmel in the 
lot of Judah. Josh. xv. 50. 
2 Sam. iii. 3. It is now call- 
ed El Kirmel. 

CARNAL. (1.) Things 
belonging to the flesh ; 
worldly things, such as sil- 
ver and gold, and things 
needful for sustaining the 
body. Rom. xv. 27, 1 Cor. 
ix. 11. (2.) Sensual, or gov- 
erned by sensual appetites. 
In this sense it is applied to 
such as are in a natural, un- 
regenerated state, who are 
enemies to God, and given 
to sensual pleasures. John 
iii. 6. Rom. viii. 7. The 
ceremonial law is called car- 
nal, because it consisted of 
such rites, ceremonies, or- 
dinances, as only related to 
the body and the purifying 
of the flesh, but did not 
reach the soul. Hebrews 
ix. 10. 

CARPUS, the friend and 
host of Paul, when he was 
at Troas. 2 Tim. iv. 13. 



CEN 



43 



CHA 



He is thought to have been 
one of the seventy disciples. 
CASTOR and POL- 
LUX, the fahled sons of 
Jupiter. They were proba- 
bly heroes who cleared the 
sea of pirates, and came, in 
after times, to be worship- 
ped as deities. The vessel 
Paul sailed in, Acts xxviii. 
had their figures carved at 
the prow. 

CAUL, a cap, or bag. 
The word is applied to a 
membrane which encloses 
the heart, Hos. xiii. 8, and 
sometimes to the head-dress 
of females. Isa. iii. 18. 

CEDAR, a tree of great 
size and beauty in warm lat- 
itudes, and much celebrated 
in the Scriptures. It is an 
evergreen of slow growth, 
and the timber it produces 
does not decay when pre- 
served from damp. A few 
yet remain on Lebanon. 
They were formerly found 
there in great abundance. 

CE'DRON, or Ke'dron, 
a small brook, rising near 
Jerusalem, passing through 
the valley of Jehoshaphat, 
and issuing in the sea of 
Sodom. As is the case with 
most streams in that coun- 
try, it is dry, or nearly so, 
in the midst of summer. 2 
Sam. xv. 23. Jer. xxxi. 40. 
John xviii. 1. 

CENTURION, an officer 
who had the command over 
a hundred soldiers. 



CESARE'A. See CiEs- 

CHALCEDONY, a pre- 
cious stone resembling the 
agate. There are several 
varieties of this gem. (1.) 
A pale grey or bluish stone, 
found in Saxony, Hungary, 
Iceland, Scotland, and Asiat- 
ic Russia. It seems to have 
been originally obtained 
from Chalcedon in Bithynia, 
whence it derives its name. 
Rev. xxi. 17. (2.) A spe- 
cies in which a red hue pre- 
vails, and which is com- 
monly called Cornelian. It 
is found in various coun- 
tries, but chiefly in Arabia, 
and Surat, and Cambay in 
India. (3.) There are some 
with white and red altep- 
nate stripes, which are call- 
ed onyx stones. 

The names givenby mod- 
ern lapidaries to many jew- 
els, are so different from 
their ancient appellations, 
that it is impossible to be 
certain, in all cases, as to 
those which are mentioned 
in Scripture. 

CHALDEA, a country 
in Asia, eastward of the 
north part of Judea. Its 
capital was Babylon. It was 
bounded by Mesopotamia on 
the north, and Arabia the 
Desert on the west, the 
Persian gulf, and part of 
Arabia Felix, on the south. 
The soil is fertile ; but rain 
seldom falls, sometimes 



CHA 



44 



CHI 



scarcely any for eight 
months. This deficiency is 
supplied by the annual in- 
undations of the Tigris 
and Euphrates. The inhab- 
itants laboriously water the 
lands which lay too high to 
be overflowed. Its ancient 
name was Shinar, because 
the Lord, by the confusion 
of tongues, did, as it were, 
shake the inhabitants out of 
it, to people the rest of the 
world. It is now called 
Kaldar. 

CHALDEANS. This 
name means, (1.) The in- 
habitants of Chaldea, and 
(2.) A sect of philosophers 
whose employment was to 
interpret dreams and foretel 
events. 

CHAMOIS, a goat, the 
species of which cannot now 
be ascertained. Deut.xiv. 5. 
CHAPITER, an orna- 
mental finish to the top of a 
pillar. 2 Kings xxv. 17, &c. 
CHARGER, a large dish, 
or, as we would now call it, 
a salver, or waiter. Numb, 
vii. 17. 

CHARITY, a principle of 
love to God, and benevo- 
lence to men, which inclines 
the possessor to glorify God, 
and to do good to others. Its 
distinguishing characteris- 
tics may be seen. 1 Cor. xiii. 
CHASTISEMENT, the 
correction of an offender, 
either by word or deed. 
The " chastisement of our 



peace," &c. Isa. liii. 5, sig- 
nifies that punishment which 
was laid upon Christ by 
God's justice, and by which 
our peace, that is, our rec- 
onciliation to God, was to be 
procured. 

CHEERFULNESS, glad- 
ness of heart ; gaiety, or 
liveliness of disposition ; 
freedom from dejection, or 
gloomy thoughts ; also con- 
tentment in present circum- 
stances. 

CHE'MOSH, aMoabitish 
idol, supposed by some to be 
the sun, others have thought 
it was the same as Bacchus. 
CHERUB, the singular 
of Cherubim, a word which 
is of doubtful derivation. It 
is thought by some that the 
Egyptian sphinxes were im- 
itations of the Hebrew cher- 
ubs. Grotius. Bochart, and 
Spencer, suppose they re- 
sembled an ox or a calf. 

CHIOS, an island of 
Greece, famous once for its 
Malmsey wine, and more 
recently for its literature. 
The place was almost ruin- 
ed, and great numbers of its 
inhabitants were massacred 
by the Turks, in the late 
revolution. Its modern 
name is Scio. Acts xx. 15. 
CHISLEU, the Jews' 
third civil month. See 
Month. 

CHITTIM, a country 
concerning the place of 
which there has been much 



CHR 



45 



CHU 



dispute. The probability 
seems to be, that it means 
the islands of the Mediter- 
ranean, especially those of 
Greece. Josephus under 
stands by it the island of 
Cyprus. Numb. xxiv. 24. 

CHORA'ZIN, a city of 
Palestine. It is now called 
Telhoui. Matt. xi. 21. 

CHRIST, a word derived 
from the Greek term, signi- 
fying to anoint. Our Sa- 
viour w T as emphatically, the 
Anointed One, and as such, 
perfected a priestly work, 
which enables him to save 
unto the uttermost, all that 
come unto God by him. 
Heb. vii. 25. At the last day 
he will judge the world. 
Acts xvii 31. 2 Tim. iv. 1. 

CHRONICLES. Two 
books of Scriptures are so 
called, the writer of which is 
not now known. They are 
evidently compiled by direc- 
tion of the Holy Spirit, from 
copious registers and docu- 
ments which, being unin- 
spired, have not been pre- 
served. The FIRST EOOE 
traces the Israelites fiom 
Adam to David. The sec- 
ond relates the progress and 
dissolution of the kingdom 
of Judah, and the return of 
the Jews from the Babylon- 
ish captivity. The period 
embraced in the two books 
is about 3468 years. 

CHRYS'OLlTEwas prob- 
ably the ancient name of the 



gem now called topaz. The 
stone now called chrysolite, 
is seldom found larger than a 
pin's head. It was the tenth 
in the breastplate of Aaron, 
and bore the name of Zeb- 
ulun. Rev. xxi. 20. 

CHRYSO'PRASUS, a 
precious stone of a grass 
green colour, derived chief- 
ly from Silesia. Rev. xxi. 
20. 

CHURCH. The word so 
rendered was anciently used 
to signify any public organ- 
ized meeting of citizens. It 
is thought by many, that the 
place of sacred meeting is so 
called, in I Cor. xi. 18, 22, 
xiv. 34. As the word is 
used in the New Testament, 
it has for the most part two 
significations. 

(1.) The whole of the 
elect in heaven and earth, 
which is Christ's spouse, or 
body, and is what we call 
the invisible church, because 
we cannot now -know cer- 
tainly, who belong it — or the 
catholic, or universal church, 
because it embraces the tru- 
ly pious in all the earth. 
Matt. xvi. 18. 1 Cor. vi. 4. 
Col. i. 18. 

(2.) A particular body of 
men, that are wont to meet 
together in one place, to 
profess, worship, and serve 
the Lord Christ. Such were 
the churches of Ephesus 5 
Smyrna, Jerusalem, Rome, 
&c. Acts viii. 1. CoL iv. 



CIR 



46 



CLE 



16. Rev. i. 4. Thus we read 
also of churches in particu- 
lar houses. Rom. xvi. 5. 
Col. iv. 35. The followers 
of Christ, who are here in a 
state of spiritual warfare 
against the world, the flesh, 
and the devil, are called, by 
theologians, the churcli 
militant. But those in heav- 
en, whose conquest over sin 
and death is complete, and 
who are rewarded with eter- 
nal blessedness, are styled 
the church triumphant. 

CILICIA, a province on 
the north-eastern extremity 
af the Mediterranean sea, 
famous on account of Cice- 
ro, who was its proconsul. 
In Tarsus, its metropolis, 
Paul was horn. It produ- 
ces superior saffron in great 
quantities, and is now called 
Caramania, 

CINNAMON, a species 
of laurel. What is sold in 
the shops under this name 
is the bark. It was one of 
the ingredients of the holy 
oil. 

CIRCUMCISE, to cut off 
the foreskin, according to 
the commandment given to 
Abraham, as a sign of that 
covenant which God had 
entered into with him, that 
out of his loins should pro- 
ceed the Messiah. To be 
spiritually circumcised, or 
to be the spiritual seed of 
Abraham, is to have the 
tiling signified by that cere- 



mony, and to perform all 
those duties which circum- 
cision was designed to en- 
force — namely, to believe in 
the Messiah, to put off the 
old man, and to serve him 
as new creatures, which is 
signified by our acceptance 
of the ordinances of the gos- 
pel, and submission to them. 
Phil. iii. 3. 

CLEAN, pure, free from 
defilement. Grain is clean, 
when freed from the chaff. 
Isa. xxx. 24. Clean beasts 
and birds were those which 
God made it proper for his 
people to eat. But under 
the New Testament, to the 
pure all things are pure; 
that is, all food is clean if 
we eat it with thankfulness 
and prayer. Cleanness of 
teeth in the Old Testament 
means the want of any 
thing to eat. 

CLEMENT, a Christian 
mentioned Phil. iv. 3. It is 
supposed he is the same 
with the Clemens Romanus, 
famous in church history, 
as the chief uninspired 
writer of the first century. 
Many productions are at- 
tributed to him, only one of 
which, a letter to the Cor- 
inthians, is universally ac- 
knowledged to be genuine. 

CLE'OPHAS, probably 
the same with Alpheus, is 
said to have been the broth- 
er of Joseph, our Lord's re- 
puted father. He was the 



coc 



47 



CON 



husband of Mary, sister of 
the blessed Virgin, and was 
the father of Simon and 
James the Less, and of Jude 
and Joseph, or Joses, the 
cousin-merman of Christ. 

CLOTHES. See Rai- 
ment. 

COALS. A pot of coals 
was used at our Saviour's 
trial for the men to warm 
themselves, who had been 
exposed to the night air and 
dew in apprehending Christ. 
In the day time, fire was 
rarely necessary in the 
Holy Land. The disciples 
were to pray that their 
flight might not be in the 
winter, not so much on ac- 
count of the cold, as of the 
swelling of the streams and 
torrents, especially in the 
mountains. Matt. xxiv. 20. 
COCKATRICE, a ser- 
pent of great venom ; prob- 
ably the Cobra de Capello. 
The eggs of serpents are 
sometimes found; and when 
eaten in mistake for those 
of birds, have proved fatal. 
The prophecy, Isaiah xi. 6, 
8, seems to have been ob- 
scurely known to the ancient 
Hindoos. Their god, Krish- 
nu, is represented as play- 
ing on a flute with such 
charming melody that be- 
fore him, in one peaceful 
group, stand a young ox, a 
ti^er, and a serpent. 

COCKLE, a weed growing 
among wheat. Job xxxi. 40. 



COGITATIONS, medi- 
tations, contemplations, pur- 
poses. Daniel vii. 23. 

COLLOPS, slices, or 
lumps; masses of fat on the 
ribs, &c. Job xv. 27. 

COLOS'SE, a city of 
Phrygia, near Laodicea. 
Paul sent the Christians 
here an inspired Epistle. 
The city was destroyed by 
an earthquake in the tenth 
year of Nero ; that is, A. D. 
6'3. The modern name of 
this place is Konos. 

COMMUNION, the con- 
cord of doctrines or opinions 
in several persons. The act 
of receiving the Lord's Sup- 
per, that sign of our fellow- 
ship with Christ. 1 Cor. x. 
16. The communion of 
saints is that fellowship 
which the saints have with 
Christ by faith, and among 
themselves by love. I John 
i. 3. Acts iv. 32, 34, 35. 

COMPASS, the instru- 
ment so called, used now 
by navigators, was wholly 
unknown to the ancients. 
The expression, {t fetch a 
compass," Acts xxviii. 13, 
means to go round, and not 
directly to a place. The 
carpenter's compass is men- 
tioned, Isaiah xliv. 13. 

CONCISION, a term 
used in reference to persons 
who would cut asunder, or 
make schisms, in the church 
of Christ. Phil. hi. 2. Rev. 
ii. 9. 



CON 



48 



CON 



CONDEMNATION, the 

act of passing sentence a- 
gainst a person, by which 
he is doomed to punish- 
ment; the punishment it- 
self. Among the Greeks, 
condemnation was signified 
by a black stone, and abso- 
lution by giving a white 
stone, to which an allusion 
is made in Rev. ii. 17. 

CONEY, a small animal 
which seems, from the allu- 
sions to it in Scripture, to 
have been common in Pales- 
tine. As the name is now 
obsolete, it has become a 
matter of dispute what ani- 
mal, now known to us, is 
meant. Bruce is confident 
it is the Jlshkoko, found in 
Ethiopia, Arabia, Palestine, 
and parts adjacent. Its size 
is rather less than that of a 
cat. It has neither tail nor 
voice, and chews the cud. 
It is remarkably inoffensive 
and timid, feeding- only on 
roots and fruits, &c. but es- 
capes its enemies by run- 
ning into holes inaccessible 
to larger animals. Bochart, 
Pennant, and other authors 
of high authority, consider 
the Jerboa to be the Coney 
of Scripture. This animal 
is about the size of a rabbit, 
and has a long tail. Its 
form and common posture 
are shown by the annex- 
ed engraving, which super- 
sedes the necessity of a par- 
ticular description. The 



Arabs call it mountain rat, 
and esteem its flesh a great 
delicacy. 

The editor of Calmet in- 
clines to regard the Ashkoko 
as the Coney of Scripture. 
Lev. xi. 5. Psalm civ. 18. 
Prov. xxx. 24, 26, &c. and 
the Jerboa as the Mouse 
mentioned Leviticus xi. 29. 
1 Sam. vi. 5, &c. 

CONFESS, plainly to ac- 
knowledge. Jesus Christ 
will confess his people at the 
last day, and publicly own 
them his children and faith- 
ful servants. Luke xii. 8. 
They confess him before 
men, when, notwithstanding 
all danger and opposition, 
they openly profess and ad- 
here to his truth, observe his 
ordinances, and walk in his 
way, Matt. x. 32. To con- 
fess God, is to praise and 
thank him. Heb. xiii. 15. 
To confess sin is candidly to 
acknowledge our guilt be- 
fore God, who can pardon or 
punish us ; or to our neigh- 
bour, whom we have offend- 
ed, or who can give us prop- 
er instruction and comfort. 
Ps. xxxii. 5. James v. 16. 
Matt. iii. 6. 

CONSCIENCE, that pow- 
er of our mind, which corn- 
pares the qualities and ac- 
tions of ourselves or others 
with the law of God, and de- 
cides on the good or evil ten- 
dency of an action according 
to the degree of light. Rom. 



CON 



51 



COR 



ii. 15. Conscience is good, 
when, being sprinkled with 
Jesus' blood, it clearly dis- 
cerns the will of God, and 
urges obedience to his law, 
from gospel motives, and ap- 
proves the same. 1 Tim. 
l. 5. It is pure, purged from 
dead works, when by the 
application of Jesus' blood, 
it is freed from the sentence 
of death due to sin, delivered 
from the slavery of indwell- 
ing corruption, and by the in- 
struction of the Holy Ghost, 
is rendered clear in its views, 
holy in its aims, and a vig- 
orous opposer of every thin or 
sinful. ITim.iii. 9. Heo". 
ix. 14. x. 2, 22. 

CONTEMN, to despise, 
to reject with disdain, as the 
wicked do God. Ps. x. 13, 
and his law, Ps. cvii. 11. 

CONVERSATION, dis- 
course. It is commonly used 
in sacred Scripture, to mean 
deportment, or the general 
tenor of a person's life. Eph. 
iv. 22. 1 Pet. iii. 16. 

CONVERSION, a turning 
from one manner of life, or 
set of principles, to another. 
Acts xv. 3. In the gospels 
the word is used to signify 
the entire change which re- 
ligion produces in the dispo- 
sition, principles, and behav- 
iour. Without this change 
wo cannot enter heaven. 
Matt, xviii. 3. 

CONVICT, or Convince, 
to persuade ono of the 



truth of any thing. Acts 
xviii. 28. The Holy Spir- 
it does this, when it applies 
the law to the conscience, 
and produces genuine re- 
pentance. 

CO'OS, a small island in 
the Mediterranean sea, near 
the south-west point of Asia 
Minor. Hippocrates > the 
famous physician, and Apel- 
les, the eminent painter, 
were natives of this island. 
It is now called Stancore. 

COR, a Hebrew measure, 
equal to about six bushels. 
Some computations make it 
much more. 

COR/AL a hard, creta- 
ceous marine production, re- 
sembling a plant. It is of 
various colours, white, black, 
and red; the latter is the 
sort emphatically called cor- 
al, and is the most valuable. 
It was auciently held in high 
esteem. The word occurs 
only in Job xxviii. 18, and 
Ezek. xxvii. 16. 

CORBAN, a gift to relig- 
ious purposes. Mark vii. 11, 
12. The Pharisees in the 
days of Christ, taught that a 
man might escape all obliga- 
tion to support his indigent 
parents, by savins: of his 
property, " be it Corban." 
In- this case if he did not 
give his property at that 
time to the temple, he was 
bound to do so at his death, 
though his parents should 
thus be left destitute. Thus 



COR 



52 



cou 



did they tc make void the 
law" of honouring father 
and mother, " through their 
traditions." Mark vii. 13. 

CORIANDER, astrongly 
aromatic plant, bearing a 
small round seed, fragrant to 
the smell, and of an agree- 
able taste. Ex. xvi. 31. 
Numbers xi. 7. 

COR'INTH, one of the 
richest cities of Greece, 
and capital of Achaia. Its 
commodious haven, and ad- 
vantageous location, gave it 
a vast commerce and im- 
mense wealth. During a 
war with Rome, L. Mummi- 
us burnt it to the ground, A. 
M. 3827. It was afterward 
rebuilt under the auspices of 
Julius Caesar. It fell into the 
hands of the Turks, under 
Mahomet 2d. Paul preach 
ed here nearly two years. 
Acts xviii. 1. It is now call- 
ed Corinto. 

CORINTHIANS. The 
two epistles under this name 
were written by Paul to the 
Christians at Corinth, where 
he had preached with great 
success. Acts xviii. False 
teachers had led them into 
great errors, which he here 
exposes and denounces. 

COR'MORANT, a water- 
fowl, about the size of a 
goose ; it lives on fish, which 
it catches with astonishing 
skill. Its habits are very 
lonely and sad. Zepb. ii. 14. 

CORN, the generic name 



in scripture for grain of all 
kinds. Parched corn still 
constitutes an important and 
not unpleasant part of the 
food of the Arabs of Pales- 
tine, &c. 

COURSE, see Abia. 

COUNCIL, a tribunal 
frequently mentioned in the 
New Testament. The Great 
Council, so called, did not 
consist of the 72 elders who 
were originally appointed to 
assist Moses in the civil ad- 
ministration of the govern- 
ment, but was instituted in 
the time of the Maccabees* — 
It consisted of chief priests, 
elders, (who were perhaps 
the heads of tribes or fami- 
lies,) and scribes; amount- 
ing in the whole to 72 per- 
sons, and called by Jewish 
writers, the Sanhedrim. 
This council possessed ex- 
tensive authority, taking 
cognizance not only of relig- 
ious matters, but of appeals 
from inferior courts of jus- 
tice and of the general affairs 
of the kingdom. After Ju- 
dea became a Roman prov- 



*The Maccabee? were a race of 
Princes who united in their family 
the regal and pontifical offices. They 
were men of distinguished prudence 
and valour, who having delivered 
Israel from the yoke of Assyria, gov- 
erned honorably for 126 years, 
when (about 56 years B. C.) their 
country was conquer ed by >Pompey 
and made tributary to Rome. They 
are frequently called in history 
the Asmoncan Princes. 



cov 



53 



CRO 



ince, the council was depriv- 
ed of the power of inflicting 
capital punishments, for 
which reason they delivered 
our Saviour to Pilate, de- 
manding his death. The 
stoning of Stephen, was in 
consequence not of a decree 
of the council, but of a riot. 
Acts vii. 57, 58. This is the 
tribunal mentioned Matt. v. 
22. and xxvii. 1. John xi. 
47, &c. 

COURT, an enclosed space 
near or within a house. That 
round the tabernacle was 
formed of pillars and veils 
hung by cords. The method 
of building private houses in 
the form of a hallow square, 
made the court on the inside. 
COVENANT, an agree- 
ment to some particular 
thing. The promise to Noah 
that the waters should no 
more destroy the earth, is 
called a covenant. Gen. ix. 
9 — 17. God also made a 
covenant with Abraham, 
that he should have a nu- 
merous seed, &c. Gen. xvi. 
2 — 9. The law of Sinai was 
another covenant. Deut. iv. 
13. The covenant of re- 
demption and salvation by 
grace, is called a new and 
better covenant, Heb. viii. 6. 
8, in respect to its dispensa- 
tion, and manner of mani- 
festation, its being ratified 
by the actual sufferings and 
blood of Christ, and freed 
from former ceremonies, its 



containing a more full rev- 
elation of religion, and at- 
tended with a larger measure 
of the gifts and graces of the 
Spirit, and is never to wax 
old, or be abolished. 

COVETOUSNESS, an ea- 
ger, unreasonable desire of 
gain ) a longing after the 
goods of another. It is call- 
ed idolatry, Col. iii. 5, be- 
cause the covetous man 
places that delight and con- 
fidence in riches which are 
due to God. This sin is ex- 
pressly forbidden in the 
tenth commandment. 

CRACKNELS, a sort of 
seedcakes or buns. 1 King3 
xiv. 3. 

CRETE, an island at the 
mouth of the iEgean Sea, be- 
tween Rhodes and Pelopon- 
nesus, Acts xxvii. 7. Jupiter 
is said to have been brought 
up here, and also buried. 
It was the seat of legislature 
to all Greece. There were 
once 100 cities on the island. 
The inhabitants were ex- 
ceedingly addicted to lying. 
Tit. i. 12. The gospel con- 
verted many persons here. 
Tit. i. 5. It is now called 
C (india. 

CRISPING-PINS, curl- 
ing irons for the hair. lsa. 
iii. 22. 

CPvOSS, a sort of gibbet, 
consisting of two pieces of 
wood placed crosswise, in 
the form off or X. That of 
our Saviour is said to have 



CRO 



54 



CRU 



been of the former kind. It 
was a common punishment 
among the Syrians, Egyp- 
tians, Persians, Africans, 
Greeks and Romans. With 
the Jews it was not used at 
all; hanging on a tree being 
an execution of a different 
kind. It was therefore no 
inconsiderable effect of the 
divine Providence to order 
matters so as that Jesus 
should suffer this death ac- 
cording to prophecy. It 
was exceedingly painful and 
lingering. First, the crim- 
inal was scourged with cords, 
often with bones at their 
end. Next he bore his cross, 
or part of it, to the place of 
execution. Crucified per- 
sons were sometimes bound 
to the cross with cords, as 
St. Andrew probably was; 
but commonly nails were 
driven through the hands 
and feet. Sometimes per- 
sons were crucified with 
their heads downwards. In 
this manner, it is said, Peter 
desired to be crucified, not 
thinking himself worthy to 
die like his M aster. An in- 
scription, representing the 
cause of the punishment, 
was ordinarily written on a 
tablet at the top of the cross. 
It is often said that the crim- 
inal was fastened to the 
cross before it was raised. 
This is probably when cords 
■were used. But the jar of 
forcibly settling the cross in 



the ground would have 
broken off the body with 
dreadful anguish. Indeed, 
there is a certainty, that a 
piece of wood jutted out un- 
der the feet, or a large peg 
was inserted halfway up the 
cross to serve as a sort of 
seat. It is observable, how 
the inscription on the cross 
of Christ, instead of charging 
him with a crime, plainly 
hinted his innocence and 
Messiahship ; nor could the 
heathen governor be pre- 
vailed on to alter it. The 
word is used metaphorically 
for the whole of Christ's suf- 
ferings, but especially those 
on the tree or cross. Heb. 
xii. 2. 

CROWN, an attire, or 
dress for the head. Those 
in the games, were made of 
parsley, pine, flowers, &c. 
Those for kings, of gold 
adorned with gems. Meta- 
phorically, that is a crown, 
which gives glory or dignity. 
Thus Jehovah was a crown 
of glory to Judah. Isa. lxii. 
3. Christ is said to have a 
"crown of gold." and "many 
crowns," meaning his inef- 
fable grandeur and sover- 
eignty. Rev. xix. 12, &c. 
Converts are thus a croicn to 
ministers. Phil. iv. 1. 1 
Thess. ii. 19. See also Prov. 
xii. 4. xvii. C, and xxvii. 24. 
CRUCIFY, to put to 
death by the cross. A Ro- 
man mode of executing vile 



CUB 



55 



CYP 



slaves, and considered a 
great infamy to soldiers or 
noble citizens. Figurative- 
ly, it means to subdue our 
evil propensities. 

CRYSTAL, a hard, trans- 
parent, and colourless fossil, 
of a regular angular form. 
The word translated crystal 
in Ezek. i. 22, is rendered 
frost in Gen. xxxi. 40. Job 
xxxvii. 10, and Jer. xxxvi. 
30, and ice in Job vi. 16. 
xxxviii. 29, and Ps. cxlvii. 
17. There are three kinds 
of pure crystal, besides va- 
rious sorts mixed with oth6r 
different substances. Crystal 
was anciently reckoned very 
valuable. Job xxviii. 17. 
Pliny mentions a crystal 
vase, worth about 5000 dol- 
lars. Nero furiously broke 
two such cups, to chastise 
his subjects by impoverish- 
ing them. It is now of far 
less esteem. The firmament 
above the cherubims, the 
sea of glass before the throne 
of God, the river of life, and 
the light of the new Jeru- 
salem, are compared to crys- 
tal, for their purity, clearness 
and splendour. Ezek. i. 22. 
Rev. iv. 6. xxii. 1. 

CUBIT, an arm, and meas- 
ure equal to eighteen inches. 
It rose from measuring with 
the arm from the elbow to 
the end of the hand. The 
sacred cubit was nearly 22 
inches in length. Ezek. 
xliii. 13. 



CUMMIN, a small plant 
very common in Judea. Ite 
seed being agreeably aro- 
matic and pungent, were 
used as a spice. It is now 
raised for this purpose in con- 
siderable quantities in Malta. 
The hypocrisy of the Phari- 
sees, in rigidly paying the 
tenth of this unimportant 
product to religious uses, 
and yet neglecting the 
solemn duties of mercy, &c. 
is very striking. Mat. xxiii. 
23. 

CUSH. (1.) The eldest 
son of Ham, and father of 
Mmrod, Gen. x. 8. (2.) A 
country on the Araxes, af- 
terwards inhabited by the 
Scythians. (3.) Another 
name for Ethiopia. Isa. xi. 
11. (4.) A country in Ara- 
bia Petrea, bordering on 
Egypt, of which Zipporah 
was a native. 

CYMBAL, an instrument 
of loud music, used with 
others, but giving no melody 
of itself. To speak with 
tongues, if not done out of 
love to souls, was but a 
pompous act of self-praise, 
and was of no use. 1 Cor. 
xiii. 1. 
CYPRUS, a populous island 
in the Mediterranean Sea: 
so called from the Cypress 
trees, with which it abound- 
ed. The tree bears a flower 
of most delightful fragrance. 
According to Josephus, it 
was peopled by the descend- 



CYR 



DAM 



ants of Chittim. The chief 
deity was Venus, worship- 
ped under the name of Cy- 
pris, or Cypria. A famous 
temple of hers stood on 
Mount Olympus. Asbestos, 
emeralds, and amethysts, 
are found here. Barnabas 
was born, and, according to 
tradition, suffered martyr- 
dom in Cyprus. It now con- 
tains a population of about 
60,000, mostly Greeks. 

CYRE'NE, a country west 
of Egypt, and the birth place 
of Callimachus the poet, 
Eratosthenes, the historian, 
and Simon, who bore the Sa- 
viour's cross. Many Jews 
from here, were at the Pen- 
tecost, and became convert- 
ed under Peter's sermon. 
Acts ii. The region is now 
under the Turkish power, 
and has become almost a 
desert. It is now called 
Cairoan. • * 

CYRUS, son of Cambyses, 
king of Persia, by the daugh- 
ter of Ahasuerus, king of 
Media. He inherited the 
crowns both of Media 
and Persia, having married 
the only daughter of Dari- 
us. He died at the age 



of seventy, after having 
reigned thirty years. Dan. 
vii. 5. Isa. xlvi. 11. The 
first three chapters of Ezra 
describe his measures to re- 
store Jerusalem. 



D AGON, a chief idol of 
the Philistines, probably the 
same as JVebo, Isa. xlvi. 1. 
Though so signally disgrac- 
ed at Ashdod, the worship 
of it was not abandoned till 
A. M. 3840, when the Jew- 
ish leader Jonathan burnt it 
and its temple. The im- 
age represented the body 
of a fish with the head and 
arms of a man. The figures 
of this god are not all exact- 
ly alike, though all combine 
the human form with that of 
a fish. The accompanying 
picture of this idol is taken 
from a drawing, by GentiL, 
given in Calmet's Dictiona- 
ry. Dagon is thought by 
Mons. Gentil, to be the 
same as the Vishnu of the 
Hindoos. Near Rangoon, 
in Burmah, is the Shoe 
Dagoun, or gilt temple of 
Dagon. 

DALMANU'THA, a prov- 
ince on the east side of the 
sea of Tiberias, either the 
same as Magdala, or near it. 
Mark viii. 10. 

DALMA'TIA, a district 



on the Gulf of Venice, visit- 
ed by Titus. 2 Tim. iv. 9. 
The inhabitants are addict- 
ed to plunder. 

DAMASCUS, once a 
most noble city in the north 
of Palestine, and one of the 
most ancient on earth, being 
mentioned Gen. xiv. 15. It 




DAGON, 



DAN 



59 



DAY 



is now the capital of a Turk- 
ish Pachalic ; and contains 
80,000 inhabitants, or accor- 
ding to a modern traveller, 
200,000. Mr. Connor esti- 
mates the Jews in Damas- 
cus, at 2,500, and the nomi- 
nal Christians, at 20,000 
ts including Greeks, Latins, 
Catholics, Maronites, Arme- 
nians, and Nestorians." It 
is computed that 50,000 Ma- 
hometan pilgrims annually 
pass through this city from 
the north, on their way to 
Mecca. Superior swords 
are made here, and a species 
of silk, called, from the 
place, damask. We have 
roses and plum3 which were 
introduced from thence, and 
bear the same name. The 
Greek Patriarch of Antioch 
resides there. It is now 
called Daineschk, or Scham. 

DAMNATION, the state 
of being excluded from di- 
vine mercy ; that condem- 
nation to eternal punish- 
ment which is the awful 
condition of the wicked in a 
future state. Matt, xxiii. 33. 

DANIEL, a Hebrew pro- 
phet, cotemporary with Eze- 
kiel, but living longer than 
he. He was of the royal 
family, and though carried 
among the captives to Baby- 
lon, rose to wisdom and hon- 
our. In the book which 
bears his name, he foretels 
not only the coming of Mes- 
siah, as other prophets, but 



the very time of his birtfe, 
Under the emblem of a great 
image of four materials, and 
of various beasts, he predicts 
the successive fall of the 
four great monarchies of 
Babylon, Persia, Greece, 
and Rome ; after which, 
the kingdom of Christ, like 
the stone from the moun- 
tain, shall fill the earth and 
continue forever. 

DARFUS,or Cyaxar'es, 
king of the Medes, was 
brother to the mother of 
Cyrus. When he conquer- 
ed Babylon he constituted a 
senate to govern it, of which 
Daniel was one. 

Dari'usHystas'pes was, 
according to Archbishop 
Usher, Ma&uerus, the hus- 
band of Esther. 

Dari'us Codomanus was 
originally poor and obscure ; 
but for his valour was made 
governor of Armenia by the 
king of Persia. He contriv- 
ed the murder of his sover- 
eign, and by the intrigue of 
Bagoas, the chief eunuch, 
ascended the throne. He 
was soon after conquered, 
and deprived ofhis ill-gotten 
throne, by Alexander the 

DATES, the fruit of the 
Palm tree. See Palm. 

DAY, a division of time, 
which signifies, (1.) That 
space which intervenes be- 
tween the rising and setting 
of the sun. (2.) The period 



DEA 



60 



DEA 



of a revolution of the earth 
on its axis, comprising 24 
hours. The commencement 
of this period has been dif- 
ferent among different na- 
tions. The Hebrews be- 
gan in the evening. Lev. 
xxiii. 32. The Persians and 
Creeks begin at sunrise ; 
the Arabians at noon ; and 
ourselves and most modern 
nations at midnight. (3.) 
A period in which any par- 
ticular event is to occur. 
John viii. 56. 1 Tbess. v. 2. 
(4.) A season of merciful 
opportunity. Luke xix. 47. 
(5.) The time of a man's life. 
Job iii. 8. Psl. xxxvii. 13. 
(6.) A prophetic year. Ezek. 
iv. 5, 6. Dan. ix. 24. Rev. 
xi. 3- (7.) Heaven. Rom. 
xiii. 12. 

DEACON, is a word de- 
rived from the Greek, and 
signifying servant. The 
cause and manner of the ap- 
pointment of deacons are 
clearly recorded. Acts vi. 
1 — 6. Paul specifies their 
duty as consisting in " serv- 
ing tables," Phil. i. 1. The 
qualifications required for 
this office, are laid down, 
1 Tim. iii. 8—12. If mar- 
ried, they were to have but 
one wife ; in opposition to 
the polygamy then com- 
mon ; and the wife must be 
" grave, not slanderous, 
sober, f »ithful in all things." 
It is thought there were in 
tfea primitive churches, fe- 



males chosen to be deacon- 
esses, who, as Calmet says, 
" assisted females to dress 
and undress at baptism, 
visited those of their own 
sex in sickness, and when 
imprisoned for their faith, 
&c. They were always 
persons of advanced age, 
and were appointed to the 
office, by the imposition of 
hands." It is thought such 
sisters are alluded to, 1 Tim. 
v. 9—18 ; and that Phoebe 
was such an one. Rom. 
xvi. 1. 

DEAD SEA, the same 
with the Lake Asphaltites, 
in the south-east part of 
Canaan. The valley of Sid- 
dim, which was near Sod- 
om, makes part of this sea. 
Gen. xiv. 3. Its waters are 
clear when taken up in a 
glass, but very bitter, much 
more salt than common sea 
water, and of greater spe- 
cific gravity, so that a man 
may swim in it with great 
ease. The air round the 
lake seems loaded with sul- 
phureous and bituminous 
vapours, which prevent 
vegetation, and give that 
deadly aspect, which all 
travellers remark. The 

mountains on each side are 
about 8 miles apart, but the 
expanse of water in that 
part does not exceed 6 in 
breadth. Its extreme length 
is about 75 miles, and its 
greatest breadth nearly six- 



DEC 



61 



DEU 



teen. This lake receives 
the river Jordan, the river 
^.rnon, and the brook Kid- 
ron, besides other rivulets, 
and has no visible communi- 
cation with the sea. 

DEATH. (1.) The ex- 
tinction of life, or separation 
of the soul from the body. 
(2.) A separation of soul 
and body from God's favour 
in this life, which is the 
state of all the unregenerate, 
and is called spiritual death. 
(3.) Is perpetual exclusion 
from God's heavenly pres- 
ence and glory, which is 
called the second death. 

DEBTOR, one that owes 
any thing to another. As 
the creditor has a right to 
exact pay from the debtor, 
so God hath a right to in- 
flict punishment on the 
guilty. Thus men are 
debtors to God by trespass- 
ino* against him ; and to 
their neighbours whom they 
injure, wrong, or cffend. 
" Debtor to the whole law," 
Gal. v. 3, means, obliged to 
keep the whole law of Mo- 
ses, as the condition of eter- 
nal life, and so virtually dis- 
claiming all pardon by 
Christ. The apostle Paul 
says he was a debtor " both 
to Greeks and Barbarians;" 
that is, bound by his office 
to preach the gospel to all 
nations. 

DECAP'OLIS, a country 
on the sea of Tiberias. 



Matt, iv. 25. Mark v. 20. 
It was called Decapolis, be- 
cause there were ten cities 
in it. Some eminent au- 
thors consider it a part of 
Percea. Concerning its lim- 
its and the names of its 10 
cities, geographers are by 
no means agreed. 

DEDICATION, the sol- 
emn act of setting apart any 
person or thing to some re- 
ligious use. The Feast of 
Dedication, observed by the 
Jews for eight days, was 
to commemorate the restora- 
tion of the Temple at Je- 
rusalem, under Judas Mac- 
cabeus, after it had been 
destroyed by Antiochus 
Epiphanes. 

DESERT. Some deserts 
were entirely barren. Isa. 
xiii, 21 ; others had fine pas- 
tures. Ex. iii. 1. Almost 
every town had a desert be- 
longing to it, which answer- 
ed to our Commons. See 
Wilderness. 

DEUTERONOMY, the 
fifth book of Moses — so call- 
ed from its Greek name, 
which signifies repetition of 
the laic. That part of this 
book which mentions the 
death of Moses was added by 
inspired penmen afterward. 
The period of time comprised 
in this book, is less than 
two months. It not only 
recapitulates, but explains 
the law, and forcibly urges 
the people to obedience. 



DIA 



62 



DIA 



DEVIL, a fallen angel, or 
infernal spirit. Satan is, by- 
way of eminence, called the 
Devil, and the god of this 
world, from his power and 
influence. John xii. 31. 2 
Cor. iv. 4. He has various 
titles given him in Scrip- 
ture, expressive of his char- 
acter : Satan, Job ii. 6; 
Beelzebub^ Matt. xii. 24; 
Beliel, 2 Cor. vi. 15 ; Lu- 
cifer, Isa. xiv. 12; Dragon, 
Rev. xii. 7 ; Adversary, 1 
Peter v. 8 ; Prince of dark- 
ness, Eph. vi. 12; Apollyon, 
or destroyer, Rev. ix. 11 ; 
Angel of the bottomless pit. 
He is represented as a sin- 
ner from the beginning ; 
1 John iii. 8 ; a liar, John 
viii. 44 ; a deceiver, Rev. 
xx. 10 ; an accuser, Rev. 
xii. 10; and a murderer, 
John viii. 44. 

DEW. The dew in Pal- 
estine, and some other Ori- 
ental countries, is very 
heavy, wetting the ground 
like a smart shower. It 
sustains vegetation, in some 
districts, where rain seldom 
or never falls. Genesis 
xxvii. 28. 

DIAMOND is the hard- 
est substance in nature, and 
one of its rarest productions. 
It is generally called in 
Scripture, Adamant, which 
see. Diamond is the purest 
carbon known, and will 
burn like charcoal if ex- 
posed to great heat. The 



value of this and all other 
precious stones, is estimated 
by carats. A carat is four 
grains. The larger a dia- 
mond is, the greater in pro- 
portion is its value. One 
is mentioned belonging to 
Russia, worth 12 tons of 
gold ! Small pieces of dia- 
mond are reduced to pow- 
der, which is of the greatest 
importance to lapidaries, as 
without it the agate and 
many other jewels would 
be of little value, no oth- 
er substance being hard 
enough to operate upon 
them. With this powder, 
rock crystal is cut into 
leaves, and cut and polished 
for spectacles and other 
optical instruments. In the 
natural state, diamonds are 
not brilliant, being covered 
with an earthy crust. 

DLVNA, a celebrated 
goddess, supposed to pre- 
side over hunting and high- 
ways, and represented as a 
young huntress, with a 
crescent on her head, the 
pedestal ornamented with 
heads of stags, dogs, &c. 
She was especially renown- 
ed and worshipped at Ephe- 
sus. Acts xix. 24 — 35. She 
was one of the twelve supe- 
rior deities, and was called 
by the several names of 
Hebe, Trivia, Hecate*. Diana, 
aud Lucina. In heaven 
she was the moon, or queen 
of heaven, and perhaps the 



DIV 



63 



DOG 



same with Meni, the num- 
berer, or goddess of months. 
Jer. vii. 18, and xliv. 17. 

DYONYS'IUS, the Are- 
opagite, or judge in the 
court of Areopagus. In his 
youth, it is said, he was 
bred in all the learning of 
Athens, and went after- 
wards to Egypt to perfect 
himself in astronomy. Be- 
ing at On when our Saviour 
died, and observing the 
miraculous darkness, he 
cried out, tl Either the God 
of nature suffers himself, or 
sympathizes with one that 
suffers." He was convert- 
ed at Athens by Paul, and 
it is said became an evan- 
gelist, and was burnt as 
a martyr in his own city. 
A. D. 95. 

DISCIPLE, a learner, or 
follower of another, John 
ix. 28. It signifies in the 
New Testament a follower 
of Christ, &c. or a convert 
to his gospel. John xx. 18. 
Acts vi. 1. 

DIVINATION, an art 
much practised among 
heathen. So sinful is it in 
the sight of God, to resort 
to witches, magicians, or 
diviners, that the offence 
was made punishable with 
death. Deut. xviii. The 
means by which diviners 
pretended to discover hid- 
den things and foretel desti- 
ny were various ; such as 
observing the flight of birds, 



examining the entrails of 
beasts, easting lots, &c. 
These signs were called 
omens. The word " divine/' 
in Gen. xliv. 5, 15, seems to 
mean a natural sagacity in 
searching out and bringing 
to light hidden transactions. 

DOCTRINE, knowledge 
or learning ; the leading 
matter in a discourse ; the 
truths of the gospel in gen- 
eral. Tit. ii. 10. It signi- 
fies a tenet or opinion, Mat. 
xvi. 12 ; divine institutions, 
Matt. xv. 9 \ instruction, 
information, and confirma- 
tion in the truths of the 
gospel. 2 Tim. iii. 16. 

DOG. A well known 
animal, which, when prop- 
erly domesticated and train- 
ed, is highly useful and in- 
telligent. Under the law, 
the dog was prohibited food, 
and the Jews held him in 
great contempt. Hence, 
when David and Mephi- 
bosheth would use the most 
humbling terms, they com- 
pared themselves to " a dead 
dog." 1 Sam. xxiv. 14, 2 
Sam. ix. 8. Isaiah com- 
pares the dogs to the false 
teachers of his day. lsa. 
lvi. 10, 11. It must have 
been a hard saying to the 
faith of the poor woman, 
who applied to Christ for 
help, that it was not proper 
to " give children's bread to 
dogs." Matt. xv. 26. To 
call a person a dog, is still, 



DRI 



64 



DUM 



in (he East, expressive of 
the highest contempt. 
DOVES' DUNG. It is 

doubtful whether this arti- 
cle, mentioned 2 Kings vi. 
25, was really pigeon's dung 
used for manure, as Jose- 
phus and Theodoret think, 
or a kind of tare or cicer, 
so called from its resem- 
blance, when parched, to 
doves' dung. The Arabians 
call it chick peas. Some of 
the Rabbins affirm that it 
was the grain taken from 
the crops of pigeons who 
during the siege filled them- 
selves in the neighbouring 
fields. 

DRAGON, signifies 
either a large fish, as the 
whale, crocodile, dolphin 
&c. or a great serpent. In 
some places it evidently 
means the deadly poisonous 
lizard called Gecko by the 
east Indians. 

DREAM, Dreams pro- 
ceed from business, con- 
stitution, habit, outward 
sensations of the body, &c. 
By supernatural dreams, 
God of old informed men 
of his mind. These were 
not the same as visions. 
The former happened dur- 
ing sleep. Gen. xx. 3, 
and xxxi. II, — the latter 
when the person was wide 
awake. Ezek. i. 1. Acts 
ii. 17. 

DRINKOFFERING, a 
Kbation of wine, appointed 



to accompany certain sa- 
crifices under the ceremo- 
nial law ; which was pour- 
ed out upon or around the 
altar. Numb, xxviii. 7. 

DROMEDARY, a fleet 
animal, so called from the 
Greek word dromo, I run. 
It is smaller and more slen- 
der than a camel, but can 
carry a man a hundred 
miles per day It is govern- 
ed by a bridle connected 
with a ring fixed in its nose, 
which illustrates the ex- 
pression, 2 Kings xix. 28. 
Sennecharib should go back 
tamely and swiftly. 

DRUSIL'LA, the third 
daughter of Agrippa, was 
married to Jizizus, King of 
the Emessenians, who was 
abandoned by her, that she 
might marry Claudius Fe- 
lix, by whom she had a son 
named Agrippa. "She was 
one of the most beautiful 
women of her age, but ex- 
ceedingly licentious. Acts 
xxiv. 24. 

DRY-SHOD, without 
wet feet. Isa. xi. 15. 

DULCIMER, a musical 
instrument, used to make up 
a full chorus- It is thought 
by some to have resembled 
the present Scotch bagpipe. 
Daniel iii. 5. 

DURE, to last, continue, 
endure. Prov. viii. 18. 
DUM AH, a country some- 
where near or in Ara- 
bia Petrea, so called from 



EAG 



65 



EAR 



a son of Ishmael. Isaiah 
xxi. 11. 

DWELL, to abide, or live 
in a place. God is said to 
dwell in the heavens, and 
also with him that is of a 
contrite spirit. Christ dwells 
in the heart by faith, justi- 
fying the believing soul by 
his merit, renewing it by 
his grace, purifying it by 
his Spirit, teaching it by 
his wisdom, keeping it by 
his power, and, by his com- 
munion and compassion, 
sharing with it in all its 
troubles, and supporting it 
under all its trials. The 
Holy Ghost dwells in the 
soul by his gracious opera- 
tions, working faith, love, 
and other graces therein. 

The word of God may be 
said to dwell in a person, 
when it is diligently studied, 
firmly believed, and careful- 
ly practised. Col. iii. 16. 
The pious are said to dwell 
in God, by having the most 
intimate union and commu- 
nion with him in Christ. 
1 John iii. 21. 



EAGLE, the noblest of 
the feathered tribe. Its size 
is about that of a Turkey ; 
but has much longer wings. 
It has a beak strong and 
hooked, and is a very coura- 
F 



geous and ravenous fowl. 
It sees or smells dead car- 
cases at a prodigious dis- 
tance, and is said to break 
the bones of its prey, to 
come at the marrow. E very- 
year it moults, and becomes 
almost naked and bald, and 
then 6i renews its youth," 
by producing a set of new 
feathers. Psl. ciii. 5. Eagles 
are extremely tender of their 
young, and take them on 
their wings when weak and 
fearful. Ex. xix. 4. They 
fly high and quick, Jer. iv. 
13, have their nests in 
rocks ; Jer. xlix. 16, and 
live to an hundred years. 
Several species of the eagle 
seem to be mentioned in 
Scripture ; but at this dis- 
tance of time they cannot 
be easily distinguished. 
The golden and common 
eagle rarely, if ever, eat 
carrion^ which the vulture 
prefers. Not only all eagles, 
but the whole species com- 
prising the hawk, kite, &c. 
were unclean to the Jews, 
and are seldom eaten now. 
EAR, means sometimes 
in Scripture the same as 
till, or plough, as " ear the 
ground;" 1 Sam. viii. 12. 
Isaiah xxx. 24; a valley 
" neither eared nor sown," 
i. e. not ploughed or sown. 
Deut. xxi. 4. '• Earing time 
and harvest," means the 
time of planting and reap- 
ing. Ex. xxxiv. 21. 



EDE 



66 



EGY 



EARNEST, a pledge; a 
email part of the price of a 
thing paid in hand to con- 
firm an agreement. It is 
applied to signify the as- 
surance which the spirit of 
adoption gives believers of 
their inheritance in heaven. 
i; So the " earnest of the 
Spirit," 2 Cor. i. 22, is a 
proof that the bargain will 
be made good, and u the 
first fruits of the Spirit," 
Rom. viii. 23, or the graces 
wrought in the soul by the 
Spirit, are some pledges of 
that fulness of joy, and per- 
fection of holiness, of which 
believers shall partake in 
heaven. 

EBONY, an indian wood, 
black, hard, heavy, easily 
polished, and anciently very 
valuable. Ez. xxvii. 15. 

ECCLESIASTES, liter- 
ally a preacher. It is the 
name of one of the sacred 
books written by Solomon, 
in which is most forcibly 
shown the vanity of life, 
the propriety of enjoying; it 
temperately and in the fear 
of God, the necessity of pa- 
tience under unavoidable 
ills, and that, we must do all 
the good in our power, and 
seek the heavenly king- 
dom. 

EDEN, probably stood on 
the Euphrates, not far north 
of the Persian Gulf. Here 
is still the most fertile and 
pleasant part of the Turkish 



empire, though now miser- 
ably cultivated. 

EDOM was called Esau, 
because he was hairy ; and 
Edom, either because his 
hair and complexion were 
red, or more probably, be- 
cause he sold his birth right 
for a mess of red pottage. 
He was born A. M. 2173. 

Edom, the country of the 
Edomites. It lay en the 
south and south-east of the 
inheritance of Judah, and 
extended to the Elanitic 
gulf of the Red Sea. It 
was very mountainous, in- 
cluding mounts Seir and 
Hor. Its principal cities 
were Selah, Bozrah, Elath, 
and Ezion-geber. The E- 
domites were descendants 
of Edom or Esau. They 
possessed themselves of the 
territory originally occupied 
by the Horites, who are sup- 
posed to have finally blended 
with their conquerors. In- 
veterate foes to Israel, they 
were rendered tributary by 
David, but revolted under 
Jehoram, and rendered 
themselves independent. 
2 Chron. xxi. 8—10. See 
Idtjmea. 

EGYPT is bounded by 
the Mediterranean Sea on 
the north ; Abyssinia on the 
south ; and on the east and 
west by mountains running 
parallel with the Nile. It 
was anciently called Che- 
mia, or the land of Ham ; 



EGY 



67 



EGY 



and the present Copts call 
it Chemi, perhaps because 
Ham resided here. The 
Hebrews call it Mizraim; 
and the Arabs to this day 
call it Mesr, from Mizraim, 
the son of Ham. who peopled 
it. The arts and sciences 
were very early cultivated 
here, and maintained a 
greater degree of perfection, 
lor some ages, than was 
found in any other nation. 
Hence Pythagoras, Plato, 
&c. travelled here to com- 
plete their studies. But the 
people worshipped beasts, 
fowls, onions, beans, and 
monsters of their own imag- 
ination. " The world by 
wisdom knew not God." 1 
Cor.i. 2i. The name Egypt 
was given it by the Greeks. 
and signifies either the land 
of the Copts, a name which 
the ancient inhabitants gave 
to themselves; or the land 
of blackness, because the 
soil and water are of a black- 
ish colour. Itwas divided into 
two districts — Upper Egypt, 
or Thebais; and Lower E- 
gypt, or the Delta. The riv- 
er Nile runs through it north- 
ward, and yearly waters it, 
so that rain is scarcely re- 
quisite ; and indeed seldom 
happens in Upper Egypt. 
The heat nf summer is ex- 
cessive, but fruits abound. 
Lower Egypt produces the 
most excellent dates, al- 
monds, figs, lemons, or- 



anges, olives, &c. Date trees 
greatly abound ; and some 
villages are surrounded by 
such numbers, as to seem 
embosomed in a forest. 
They form now a great 
source of subsistence. The 
threat to cut them down, 
Jer. xlvi. 22. 23. was, there- 
fore, exceedingly terrible, 
and involved utfer ruin. 
The horses are very famous. 
The river abounds with fish, 
crocodiles, and hippopotami. 
The practice of charming 
snakes so as to carry them 
about safely, still prevails 
here. Ps. lviii. 4, 5. Jer. 
viii. 17. 

The pyramids of Egypt 
are 3000 years old, and 
stand south-west of Grand 
Cairo. The largest is 500 
feet high, and covers a 
space of more than eleven 
acres. The object of build- 
ing them is not known. If, 
as is probable, they were in- 
tended by the monarchs, 
who built them, as eternal 
monuments of their great- 
ness, it affords us a striking 
lesson of the vanity of post- 
humous fame, for the very 
names of the builders have 
long been forgotten. 

Egypt was anciently ex- 
tremely fertile ; but as the 
Nile has, by yearly additions, 
raised the surface of the 
earth a great deal higher, 
and now overflows to a less 
height, and brings worse 



EGY 



ELE 



mud along with it ; and as 
the enslaved inhabitants are 
disheartened from their an- 
cient care and industry, it 
is now but moderately fer- 
tile, and in time may be- 
come barren. Prophecy 
has been sadly verified in 
the history of Egypt. It 
was foretold that their per- 
fidy to Israel in violating 
alliances, should be punish- 
ed by their becoming a 
mean people, who should 
no more have a prince of 
their own to govern them. 
Ezekiel xxix. xxx. and xxxi. 
13. Soon after the day of 
that seer, Persia annexed 
Egypt to its empire. After- 
wards they were successive- 
ly tributary to the Greeks, 
Romans, Saracens, and 
Mamelukes. The French 
overrun this country in 
1798, apparently intending 
to keep it, and open through 
it a new channel for the 
East India trade. They 
were soon obliged to relin- 
quish it, the Egyptians be- 
ing aided by the Ottoman 
Porte and by the British. 
It is now a province of Tur- 
key, governed by a bashaw 
or pacha, and contains a 
population of about two 
millions, a considerable por- 
tion of which are Christians 
and Jews. 

The River of Egypt, 
Josh. xv. 47, does not mean 
the Nile, but the Sihor, or I 



the brook Bezor, which runs 
into the Mediterranean on 
the southern boundary of 
Palestine. 

ELAM. See Persia. 

ELDER, a person ad- 
vanced in age. Elderly men 
being always chosen in early 
ages to bear rule, the term 
at length became a title of 
office. Our word Senator 
has the same origin. The 
Hebrew elders were the 
chief of the principal fami- 
lies, or persons of allow- 
ed wisdom and prudence. 
There seem to have been 
generally seventy of them. 
Ex. xxiv. 1 — 9. These, 
with Moses and AarOn, 
made exactly six from each 
tribe. After the captivity 
there were elders in every 
city. Ezra x. 14. The 
term is used in the New 
Testament as a title of of- 
fice, to denote Christian 
pastors, or presbyters. Acts 
xx. 17, 23. Tit. i. 5—7, 
1 Pet. v. 1,2. 

ELECTION, the act of 
choosing; a token of special 
preference. 

ELEMENTS, the ingre- 
dients or constituent parts 
whereof compound bodies 
are formed. Fire, air, earth, 
and water, used to be call- 
ed elements ; but it is now 
ascertained that all these 
are compounds. The earth, 
in its various kinds of 
Original matter, shall be 



EMB 



69 



JEMB 



melted with fervent heat at 
Christ's second coming. 
2 Pet. iii. 10. Elements also 
signify the alphabet of let- 
ters, and syllables formed of 
them; and thence it is 
transferred, to signify the 
rudiments, first rules, or 
first principles of a science. 
Col. ii. 8. Heb. v. 12. The 
•* rudiments of this world," 
which are not to be used in 
the gospel-church, are cere- 
monial laws and human 
customs, which are not prop- 
er for such as enjoy the 
clear instructions of the gos- 
pel. Col. ii. 20—22. 

ELM, is a word which 
occurs but • once in our 
translation of the Bible, viz. 
Hos. iv. 13, and the original 
word Mali there used, is in 
all other places rendered oak. 

ELUL. See Month. 

To EMBALM dead bod- 
ies, is to fill them with odor- 
iferous and drying spices 
and drugs. The embalming 
of dead bodies appears to 
have had its origin, as 
well as to have attained its 
highest perfection, among 
the Egyptians; but whether 
their want of access to bury 
their dead during the over- 
flow of the Nile, or a regard 
to civil honour, or a fancy 
that the freshness of the 
body tended to detain the 
soul in it, chiefly prompted 
them hereto, we know not. 
The manner of embalming 



was this; when a person 
died, the corpse was carried 
to the coffin-maker, that he 
might prepare a fit coffin, 
with its upper side repre- 
senting the body enclosed ; 
and great men had their cof- 
fins painted or embellished 
according to their quality. 
The corpse was next car- 
ried to the embalmer, and 
the price of embalming set- 
tled with him. The high- 
est was about one thousand 
three hundred dollars; the 
second about 440, and the 
lowest but a mere trifle. 
The corpse being extended 
on a table, they drew out 
all the inwards, then filled 
the parts with myrrh, cas- 
sia, and other spices, frank- 
incense excepted. The 
brain was drawn out by the 
nose, with an iron hook, 
and the skull filled with 
astringent drucrs. The 
whole body was then anoint- 
ed with oil of cedar, myrrh, 
cinnamon, <&c. for the 
space of thirty days. It 
was next put into salt about 
forty days. Gen. L 3. Aftef* 
wards, it was wrapt in linen, 
sometimes, it is said, to the 
extent of above one thou- 
sand yards, dipped in the 
oil of myrrh, and rubbed 
with a certain gum, and de- 
livered to the relations, who 
put it into the coffin, and 
either kept it in their own 
house or in a tomb. By 



EME 



70 



EPH 



this embalming they could 
preserve dead bodies for 
thousands of years ; some 
are still shown, and are 
called mummies. 

The poor had oil of cedar 
infused, to destroy the in- 
testines, and the body wrapt 
in salt of nitre. Some of the 
poorest did but cleanse the 
inside, by injecting a certain 
liquor, and then laid the 
body seventy days in nitre, 
to dry it. Jacob and Joseph 
were no doubt embalmed in 
the manner of the Egyp- 
tians, as they died in that 
country. Gen. 1. 2, 3, 26. 
The Jews embalmed dead 
bodies; but probably in a 
very ^different and less ef- 
fectual mode than that of 
the Egyptians. When our 
Saviour w 7 as crucified, the 
necessity of his hasty burial 
obliged them only to wrap 
his body in linen, with a 
hundred pounds of myrrh, 
aloes, and like spices, oe- 
stowed by Nicodemus ; but 
Mary, and other holy w t o- 
men, had prepared ointment 
and spices, for further em- 
balming it. Matt, xxvii. 
59. Luke xxiii. 56. John 
xix. 39, 40. The use of a 
large quantity of spices on 
such occasions, w r as thought 
an honour to the deceased. 

EMERALD, one of the 
most beautiful and valuable 
of gems, of a green colour, 
seldom exceeding the size 



of a pea. They are derived 
from India and South A- 
merica. 

EMERODS, a disease, the 
character of which is not 
exactly known. Most com- 
mentators consider it to be 
what is now called piles. 
Deut, xxviii.27. 1 Samuel 
v. 12. 

EMMANUEL, or Imman- 
cel, a Hebrew word, which 
signifies God with us. Matt, 
i. 23. It is applied to the 
Messiah, in whom Ihe two 
natures, divine and human, 
were united. Isa. vii. 14. 
and viii. 8. 

EM'MAUS. The situa- 
tion of this village is not 
certainly known ; but it is 
thought to have stood seven 
miles north of Jerusalem. 

ENON, or the place of 
waters, as the word signifies, 
was the place where John 
baptized. Its situation is not 
certainly known, but prob- 
ably was in Galilee. 

ENVY, a painful vexation 
of mind at another's enjoy- 
ment. It produces malice 
and persecution. Acts xiii. 
45. It is hateful to God, 
and always destroys the 
peace of such as indulge it. 
Phil. i. 15. Prov. xiv. 30. 

E'PHA, a Hebrew meas- 
ure, containing somewhat 
more than half a bushel. 

EPHESIANS, an epistle 
of Paul, which seems to have 
been addressed to the Chris- 



EPH 



71 



EPH 



tians of Ephesus. It is em- 
inently valuable for its mi- 
nute instructions rfnd sol- 
emn admonitions. 

EPHESUS, one of the 
most famous cities of Asia, 
said to have been built by 
Ephesus, an Amazon lady, 
as early as the days of Da- 
vid. It was situated on the 
river Cayster, about forty 
miles south of Smyrna, and 
was chiefly famed for a 
magnificent temple of Di- 
ana. This is said to have 
been four hundred and 
twenty-five feet long, two 
hundred and twenty broad ; 
its roof supported by one 
hundred and twenty-seven 
pillars, seventy feet high, 
twenty-seven of which were 
curiously carved, and the 
rest polished. It was burnt 
by the infamous Erostratus, 
on the very day Socrates 
was poisoned, viz. 400 years 
before Christ. Afterward 
it was rebuilt with increas- 
ed splendour, at the com- 
mon expense of all the Gre- 
cian states. Before the 
time of Alexander, Ephesus 
had kings of its own. After 
it fell into the hands of the 
Romans, the inhabitants re- 
volted to Mithridates, king 
of Pontus, and on that ac- 
count were pillaged and 
terribly taxed by Sylla, the 
Roman general. It was 
destroyed by an earthquake, 
A. D, 19, but quickly re- 



built. Christianity was plant- 
ed here by Paul, about A. D. 
54, when he reasoned with 
the Jews in their synagogues 
for three months, Acts xviii. 
xix. — xxi. He returned 
next year, and preached to 
the Gentiles with wondei- 
ful success, Acts xix. stay- 
ing three years, Acts xx. 
31. It suffered exceeding- 
ly in its various sieges and 
captures, by the Saracens, 
Tartars, and Turks, and has 
gradually sunk to nothing. 
Toumefort says he found at 
Ephesus but thirty or forty 
houses. Chandler found 
not so many individuals. 
Now, no human being lives 
at Ephesus ! Hy-saluck, 
which may be considered 
another name for Ephesus, 
does not stand on the same 
place, and contains only a 
few wretched Turkish huts. 
The candlestick has been 
removed eut of its place ! 
" How doth the city sit sol- 
itary that was full of peo- 
ple." The apostle John 
spent most of his life, and 
closed it here. 

EPHOD, an ornamental 
upper garment. It made a 
part of the official dress of 
the Hebrew priest: that of 
the common priest being 
made of linen, and that of 
the high priest being richly 
embroidered, and containing 
the sacred breast-plate. See 
Breast-Plate. 



EPI 



72 



ESA 



EPHRAIM. (1.) The 
younger son of Joseph, born 
§293, and head of a tribe in 
Israel, which at the time of 
their deliverance out of E- 
gypt, amounted to 40,500 
persons. (2.) The lot of 
Ephraim, lying in the heart 
of the Holy Land. (3.) The 
mountains of Ephraim were 
situated in the very centre 
of Palestine, highly fertile, 
except where they approach 
the Jordan in rocky precipi- 
ces. A spur of this range 
approached Jericho, the 
passes of which have ever 
been infested by robbers. 
(4.) There was a forest of 
Ephraim, where ^Absalom's 
army was routed. 2 Sam. 
xviii. 6—17. (5.) From the 
days of Jeroboam till the 
ten tribes were carried away 
captive by Salmaneser, the 
whole land, not included 
under Judah, was often call- 
ed Ephraim. Jer. xxxi. 6. 
(6.) The city of Ephraim, 
where Christ retired with 
his disciples not long be- 
fore he suffered. John x'v 54. 

EPICUREANS, philoso- 
phers who adopted the doc- 
trine of Epicurus, who flour- 
ished at Athens, about A. M. 
3700. They denied that 
God governs the world, or 
in the least condescends to 
interfere with creatures be- 
low. They denied also the 
immortality of the soul, and 
the existence of angels. 



They maintained that the 
world was not formed by 
God, noY with any design, 
but by the fortuitous con- 
course of atoms. They 
maintained, that happiness 
consisted in pleasure ; but 
some of them placed this 
pleasure in the tranquillity 
and joy of the mind, arising 
from the practice of moral 
virtue, which is thought, 
by some, to have been the 
true principle of Epicurus ; 
others understood him in 
the gross sense, and placed 
all their happiness in cor- 
poreal pleasure. 

EPISTLE, or Letter. 
Twenty-one of the books of 
the New Testament are call- 
ed epistles. The first four- 
teen were written by Paul ; 
the other seven were writ- 
ten, one by James, two by 
Peter, three by John, and 
one by Jude. The messages 
of the seven churches of 
Asia, recorded in Revela- 
tion, are called epistles. 
Rev. ii. and iii. 

ERASTUS, a disciple of 
Paul, and chamberlain, that 
is, treasurer, of the city of 
Corinth. He resigned bis 
office, and became a travel- 
ling companion to Timothy. 
Rom. xvi. 23. 

ESA'IAS, the same as 
Isaiah, which see. 

ESAR'HADDON, the 
third son of Sennacherib, 
who preceded his father 



EUN 



73 



EVA 



about the 22d year of the 
reign of Hezekiah. In him 
the kingdoms of Assyria and 
Babylon became united ; af- 
ter which he invaded Judah 
and carried Manasseh a- 
way in chains ; which was 
the occasion of the repent- 
ance of that wicked prince, 
2 Kings xxi. He reigned 
over Assyria 39 years and 
over Babylon 13, and died 
668 years before the birth 
of Christ. 

ESAU. See Edom. 

ESPOUSALS, the actor 
ceremony of marriage. Jer. 
li. 2. 

ESTHER, the name of a 
queen of Persia, and also of 
Que of the historical books 
of the Old Testament. Her 
history is recorded in that 
inspired narrative, written, 
probably, by Mordecai. The 
king, her husband, was, as 
some think, Artaxerxes Lon- 
gimanus ; but was more 
probably, Darius IJystas- 
pes. 

ETHIOPIA, sometimes 
called in the Old Testament, 
Cuskj from the oldest son of 
Ham, whose posterity set- 
tled the country on the 
south-west of the Red Sea. 
Acts viii. 27. It bordered on 
Egypt, and was once a most 
powerful kingdom^ with 
noted cities. It 



served in the inner courts 
and chambers of kino-s. 

EUPHRATES, the most 
famous river in Western 
Asia. From its source in 
the mountains of Armenia, 
its course is westward ; af- 
ter which, at the foot of 
Mount Taurus, it bends 
southward, and having re- 
ceived the Melas, runs a- 
long the east side of Syria, 
and after having watered 
Chaldea, it runs south, and 
joins the- Tigris, just above 
where the ancient Paradise 
is supposed to have stood. 
About 60 miles farther 
south, they discharge them- 
selves into the Persian gulf. 
Like the Nile, it is subject 
to an annual overflow, by 
which it imparts great fer- 
tility to its valley. On its 
banks stood Babylon ; and 
Bussorah, about fifty miles 
from its mouth, is now a 
place of some importance. 
It is now called Epherat, or 
Phrai. 

EUROC'LYDON, a vio- 
lent and dangerous north- 
east wind, common in the 
Mediterranean about the be- 
ginning of winter. Acts 
xxvii. 14. It is now called 
by sailors, a Levanter. 

EVANGELIST, a bring- 
er of good news. It was ap- 
plied first to the inspired au- 
thors of the gospel of Jesus 



many noted cities. it is 
now called Abyssinia. 

EUNUCH, the name giv 
en to certain officers who] primitive church, 
G 



Christ, and, also, in the 
to those 



EVI 



74 



EXO 



who went from place to 
place, to preach the glad 
tidings of the ever blessed 
gospel. The term is now 
used to signify a minister 
Who travels, and is not set 
(led with any particular 
people. 

EVERLASTING, endur- 
ing forever ; eternal. God 
is everlasting, Ex. xv. 18, 
and the covenant of grace, 
Hcb. xiii. 20, and the future 
blessedness of the righteous, 
Luke xvi. 91, 2 Cor. iv. 
17, and the punishment of 
the wicked, Matt. xxv. 46. 

Our finite minds cannot 
embrace the thought of ev- 
erlasting duration. Millions 
df millions of years, multi- 
plied to the farthest powers 
of computation are as noth- 
ing to eternity. Any period 
we can compute will as cer- 
tainly come to an end as a 
single day,and then the space 
beyond is not diminished ! 
O " who can dwell in ever- 
lasting burnings ?" 

EVIL, an action contrary 
to the law of God ; any 
wrong done by one man to 
another. Matt. v. 39. It is 
prut for the afflictions or 
punishments which God 
sends, Job ii. 10 ; for sin and 
all its sufferings. Matt. vi. 
13. To have an evil eye, 
Prov. xxiii. 6, is to be cov- 
etous, and secretly grudge 
the grace that is dispensed 
toothers. Evil days, Eccl. 



xii. 1, signify the time of 
old age, which is calamitous 
in itself, and often loaded 
with the remembrance of 
youthful follies — To " put 
far away the evil day," 
Amos vi. 3, means to drive 
away the thoughts of ap- 
proaching judgment and 
death. Satan is called the 
evil one, or evil spirit ; he 
is the author of all sin ; he 
perpetually works wicked- 
ness, and causes trouble. 
John xvii. 15. Acts xix. 12. 
An evil time, is a season of 
much sinning, danger, and 
trouble. Amos v. 13. 

EXACTER. An officer 
whose business it w T as to col- 
lect fines levied by the 
courts, and sometimes to 
gather taxes. 

EXODUS, the second 
book of Mosts; so called, 
from its name in the Greek 
version, which signifies de- 
parture; because it relates 
to the history of the depart- 
ure of the Israelites from 
Egypt. It is a narrative of 
the transactions of about 145 
years, from the death of 
Joseph, A. M. 2369, to the 
erection' of the tabernacle, 
in 2514. It contains a rec- 
ord of the history of Moses, 
the plagues of Egypt, the 
journey of Israel, the dis- 
pensation of the law, the 
construction of the taber- 
nacle, and extrance into 
Canaan. 



EZE 



75 



FAI 



EX'ORCIST, one who 
drives away evil spirits, or 
casts out devils. Our Sa- 
viour, when he sent out his 
disciples to preach the gos- 
pel, gave them power over 
unclean spirits, to cast them 
out, Matt. x. 1, by which 
gift they gained repute a- 
mong the people, and gave 
proof that they were sent of 
God. But those Jewish 
exorcists, mentioned in Acts 
xix. 13, were only impos- 
tors, deluding the people 
by witchcraft or diabolical 
agency. 

EZEK1EL, one of the 
great prophets; he was the 
son of Buzi, a descendant of 
Aaron, and of course be- 
longing to the priesthood. 
Bein^ carried away captive 
with "many of his people, by 
Nebuchadnezzar, he settled 
on the banks of the Chebar, 
in Mesopotamia, and was 
there favoured with his ex- 
traordinary revelations. He 
seems to have exercised his 
prophetic office about 20 
years. 

The book of Ezekiel is 
similar to that of Jeremiah 
in its scope, but very differ- 
ent in style, being more 
pointed and severe. It pre- 
dicts dreadful calamities to 
be inflicted on Judea and 
Jerusalem, for idolatry and 
wickedness; the judgments 
that would be sent upon the 
false prophets, who deluded 



the people with vain hopes, 
and winked at their sins ', 
the punishments which 
should befal Ammon, Edom, 
Philistia, Tyre, and Egypt 3 
the restoration of Israel and 
Judah ; and the blessedness 
of the gospel church under 
the Messiah that should 
come. 

EZRA was a captive Jew, 
of the sacerdotal race, who 
by his wisdom and integri- 
ty rose to eminence in the 
Persian court. By authori- 
ty of his sovereign, he as- 
sembled a large colony of 
his countrymen, and went 
to repair Jerusalem, and re- 
build the temple. 

To Ezra is ascribed the 
important work of collecting 
the different inspired books, 
arranging, combining, * and 
correcting them, and so 
forming the complete canon 
of the Old Testament. The 
book of Ezra was doubtless 
written by him. It consists 
of two principal divisions : 
the first gives the narrative 
of the return of the Jews 
from Babylonia ; and the sec- 
ond describes the great refor- 
mation of religion, which 
took place among the peopte, 



F. 

FAITH, a dependance on 
the truth of an assertion. 
Divine faith is a firm assent, 



FAN 



76 



FAT 



upon the authority of divine 
revelation. It is thus we 
are persuaded to believe all 
truths relating to God, re- 
vealed to us in the Scrip- 
tures. Justifying or saving 
faith, is a grace wrought in 
the soul by the Spirit of God, 
whereby we receive Christ, 
as he is revealed in the 
gospel, to be a Prophet, 
Priest and King ; trust in 
him, and rely upon his 
righteousness alone for sal- 
vation. This faith begets 
a sincere obedience in life 
and conversation. " Faith 
w T hich worketh by love," 
Gal. v. 6, is faith which 
shows itself by producing 
in us love to God and to 
our neighbour. It is put 
for a belief and profession 
of^the gospel. Rom. i. 8. 

FARTHING, a coin used 
by the Romans. Our trans- 
lators give this English to 
both arcrpgtov (assarion) and 
Koogaflvig (quadrantes) but 
these were different ; the 
first was a tenth part of a 
Roman penny, or about two 
cents. Matt. x. 29. The lat- 
ter was equal to two mites, 
and is about a fourth part of 
our cent. Mark xii. 42. 

FAN, an instrument for 
separating chaff from grain. 
It was formerly made in the 
shape of a wooden shovel, 
with a long handle. The 
shape and manner of using 



it, are shown in the picfure 
of a threshing floor. With 
this, the grain, as it was 
gathered up into a heap on 
the . threshing floor, was 
tossed in the air when the 
wind blew, so that the chaff 
was driven away. As it fell 
round the place, it was cus- 
tomary to sweep it together 
and burn it. See Mat. iii. 12. 

FAST, a solemn forbear- 
ance from food, accompa- 
nied by humiliation before 
God, and prayer. Our Sa- 
viour did not appoint any 
fast days, but gave reasons 
why, after his death, his 
disciples should fast. Afflic- 
tions soon became common 
to Christians, and then they 
fasted. 2 Cor. vi. 5. 

FATHER, he that has a 
child. It is a title given to 
the first ancestor, as Rom. 
iv. 16 ; to the inventor and 
master of a certain art or 
science, or founder of a par- 
ticular profession, Gen. iv. 
20, 22 ; to that man who is 
affected with the miseries 
of the poor, and takes care 
to provide for their wants. 
Job xxix. 16. God declares 
himself to be the Father of 
the fatherless. Psl. lxviii. 
5. God is eminently the 
Father, Creator, Preserver, 
and Protector of all his crea- 
tures, but principally of 
those who call upon his 
name, knowing and serving 
hint. Peut. sxxii. 6. Roni! 



FEL 



77 



FEL 



viii. 15, 16. The devil is 
called the father of the wick- 
ed. John viii. 44. In church 
history the term is applied to 
the Christian writers of the 
first centuries. It is now 
customary to give this epi- 
thet to very aged and emi- 
nent saints. 

FATLING, a young animal 
that has been fed for slaugh- 
ter. Isa. xi. 6. Matt. xxii. 4. 
FEAR, apprehension of 
danger. Guilt produces that 
solicitude and dread which is 
called slavish fear. Acts 
xxiv. 25. Filial fear is that 
holy feeling of the renewed 
heart toward God, which 
produces a reverent submis- 
sion to his providence, and 
ready obedience to all his 
commands. Heb. v. 7. 

FELIX was deputy for 
the Romans, in the govern- 
ment of Judea. He enticed 
Drusilla to divorce Azizus, 
king of Emesa, and then 
took her as his own wife. 
He defeated about four thou- 
sand assassins, headed by 
an Egyptian impostor, who 
had posted themselves in 
the mount of Olives. Acts 
xxi. 38. During the admin- 
istration of Felix, Judea was 
in a constant turmoil, being 
infested with robbers and 
assassins, and overrun with 
impostors pretending to be 
the Messiah. It was this 
prince that trembled at the 
words of Paul, who was 



brought a prisoner to his 
bar. Acts xxiv. 25. He 
was a bad man, and govern- 
ed with great injustice and 
cruelty. In the year 60 he 
was recalled to Rome, and 
Festus was sent in his room. 
The Jews followed him, anil 
complained to the govern- 
ment of his extortion and 
violence ; and he would 
have been punished with 
death, had not his brother 
Pallas, by his credit at court, 
preserved his life. Acts 
xxiii. and xxiv. 

FELLOWSHIP, or Com- 
munion", is a term of great 
importance in the Scriptures. 
There is a fellowship to 
which the people of Christ 
are admitted with God the 
Father, and with his Son, 
Jesus Christ, the blood of Je- 
sus cleansing from all sin. 1 
John i. 3, 5, &c. There is 
also a fellowship which they 
have with one another — m 
all the spiritual blessings 
which the gospel brings to 
the guilty — in temporal 
things, which in a particular 
manner is pointed to, Acts 
ii. 42. When the disciples of 
Christ communicate jointly 
of their worldly substance to 
the support of the poor, this 
fellowship takes place. The 
church connection is called 
a fellowship, and is opposed 
to having fellowship with 
the unfruitful works of dark- 
ness. Eph. v. 11. 



FIG 



78 



FIR 



FESTUS succeeded Felix 
in the government of Judea. 
He sent Paul, whom Felix 
had left bound at Cesarea, to 
Rome, to be tried by Caesar, 
to whom he appealed. Acts 
xxv. Festus was very dili- 
gent in his efforts to put an 
end to the disturbances, 
which had become so fre- 
quent in Judea from robbe- 
ries, &c. in the reign of Fe- 
lix, but took no trouble to in- 
vestigate the claims of Chris- 
tianity ; and when Paul spoke 
of its mysteries, thought that 
much learning had made him 
mad. Acts xxvi. He died 
about A. D. 62. 

FIG-TREE, a well known 
tree, which flourishes in 
warm countries. It attains 
a good degree of perfection in 
the most southern of the Uni- 
ted States. The fruit which 
grows from the trunk and 
large branches, and not from 
the exterior twigs as in most 
trees, is nutritious and medi- 
cinal, and is exported, in a 
dried state, to every part of 
the world. The leaves of 
the tree are very large, on 
which account Adam and 
Eve made aprons of them. 
The tree itself is large, and 
some have been mentioned 
which would shelter three 
hundred men. 1 Kings iv. 
25. John i. 49. Christ blast- 
ed a fig-tree on which he 
found no fruit, though " the 
time of figs was not yet/' — 



that is, the time of gathering 
figs had not quite arrived. 
The tree was, therefore, evi- 
dently barren, and had not 
already been stripped. Mat. 
xxi. 19. The goodness of 
God is remarkably apparent 
in this tree. It flourishes in 
rocky, barren places, where 
almost nothing else will 
grow ; and a single tree, 
(says Tournefort) will some- 
times produce two hundred 
and eighty pounds of figs. So 
valuable was this tree in the 
land of Canaan, that to have 
it killed, or even to have it 
fail of its annual fruit, was 
reckoned a dreadful calami- 
ty. Joel i. 6,7. Habb. iii.17. 

FIGURE, shape, resem- 
blance. Idols are called fig- 
ures, because they are made 
after the likeness of some 
original form. Acts vii. 43. 
Adam, Isaac, &c. and some 
ancient ceremonies were 
figures or types, as they 
shadowed forth Jesus Christ. 
Rom. v. 14. Heb. xi. 19, 
and ix. 9. Baptism is called 
a figure ; its washing of wat- 
er shadows forth the washing 
of our souls in the blood of 
Christ. 

FILLET. (1.) A band for 
the hair. (2.) An architec- 
tural ornament. Exodus 
xxxvi 38, and xxxviii. 28. 

FIRKIN, a Greek meas- 
ure, equal, it is thought, to 
four gallons and a half; 
that is, about a fourth part 



FIS 



79 



FLA 



of a hath; there is no cer- 
tainty as to its size. John 
ii. 6. 

FIR-TREE. The fir-tree 
of Palestine is a very tall, 
straight ever-green, abound- 
ing with a gum called rosin. 
Its fruit somewhat resembles 
burrs of the pine tree. The 
wood was anciently used for 
musical instruments, build- 
ing, and furniture of houses 
and ships. It was the chosen 
abode of the stork. Psi. civ. 
17. Jesus Christ is compar- 
ed to a green fir-tree. Hos. 
xiv. 8. His people are liken- 
ed to fir-trees. Isaiah xli. 
19, and Iv. 13, and lx. 13. 

FISHES were created on 
the fifth day, by the word of 
God's power. Some are of 
monstrous size, and some are 
too small to be seen without 
powerful glasses. Their sit- 
uation has ever prevented an 
accurate knowledge of their 
number, structure, or man- 
ners. Linneus reckons sev- 
eral hundred different spe- 
cies ; and doubtless many 
exist in the vast extent and 
profundity of ocean, which 
have never come under hu- 
man observation. Even 
when drawn from their. wa- 
tery abode, and the form ex- 
amined and described, their 
migrations, pursuits, and 
pleasures, remain concealed 
in most cases. The sea not 
affording vegetable food in 
the profusion that is seen on 



land, the natives of the deep 
subsist by preying on each 
other. Were it not for this 
arrangement, the vast regions 
of water would have been a 
dreary vacuum in the sys- 
tem of nature. ' The fecund- 
ity and longevity of fishes is 
adapted to this order of things. 
A single cod will produce in 
a season nine millions ofeggs^ 
a flounder above one million, 
and a mackerel five hundred 
thousand. Large fish live on 
small ones, and these find 
food in the surplus spawn of 
such as have been named. 
Thus myriads of creatures 
partake of the pleasure of ex- 
istence, in an element which 
would otherwise have been a 
silent waste. Under the He- 
brew law, none were called 
clean and allowed to be eat- 
en, but such as had fins and 
scales, so that lobsters, oys- 
ters, &c. were prohibited. 

FITCHES, or Vetches, 
a sort of tare, growing to the 
height of 12 or 18 inches. 
The seeds of which are fra- 
grant and pungent, and were 
strewed on cakes by thte 
Jews. Isa. xxviii. 25, 27, &c. 

FLAG, a tall rush, common 
on the banks of the Nile ; 
grateful to cattle as food, and 
made into ropes, &,c. by the 
Egyptians. 

FLAGON, a vessel or 
cruise usually intended fbr 
wine, and containing about a 
pint. 2 Sam. vi. 19. 



FLE 



80 



FLO 



FLAX, a well known 
plant of which linen is made. 
Egypt carried on a great 
trade in the article of linen ; 
Ezek. xxvii. 7, and the de- 
struction of flax, in one of 
the plagues of Moses, must 
have been a great calamity. 
Ex. ix. 31. When it is said 
the flax had "boiled/' it 
means the seed vessels had 
begun to assume a roundish 
form. See Lamp. 

FLAY, to strip off the skin; 
a punishment used in some 
countries upon great offend- 
ers, by which they were 
slowly killed, with the ut- 
most suffering. Mic. iii. 3. 
Some of the early Christians 
were martyred in this man- 
ner. 

FLESH, that soft part of 
any animal, which lies be- 
tween the skin and the bone. 
The word is used in Scrip- 
ture for living men, and ani- 
mals in general, Gen. vi. 13 ; 
for the whole nature of man, 
as it cometh into the world 
infected with sin, Rom. vii. 
5. viii. 8 ; for all that in re- 
ligion which is outward, and 
to be seen with the eye. as 
moral works or ceremonies of 
the law, Rom. iv. 1, Gal. iii. 
3 ; for the remainder of nat- 
ural corruptions, which acts 
in opposition to the Spirit in 
regenerated persons. Rom. 
vii. 18, 25. Gal. v. 17, 24. 
Flesh also signifies the hu- 
man nature of Christ, where- 



by his divine nature was vail- 
ed, even as the mercy-s6at, 
and the most holy place were 
by the vail. Heb. x. 20. It 
is also taken for the outward 
appearance. John viii. 15. 
" A heart of flesh" denotes a 
tender, tractable temper and 
disposition of soul. 

FLOOD, an inundation or 
collection of waters. , The 
Red Sea is so called, Ps.lxvK 
6, and heavy rains, Matt. vii. 
25, and by a figure, great af- 
flictions, Ps. lxix. 15, violent 
efforts of the enemies of the 
church, Isa. lix. 19, &c. 

In most instances where 
this word occurs, it means 
that awful deluge which 
once destroyed the earth, and 
which is described in Gene- 
sis. Noah with his family, 
and the various animals 
which God brought to him, 
were preserved in the ark, 
which was their habitation 
for about a year. This mem- 
orable event is computed to 
have occurred A. M. 1656. 
Persons and things existing 
previous to it are called ante- 
diluvian . Ofthiswonderful 
event, most heathen nations 
have, to this day, some traces 
of tradition, and many aiv- 
cient Gentile writers allude 
to it. The present state of 
the earth furnishes also many 
evidences of its having oc- 
curred. Trees, teeth, bonesi, 
sea-shells, &c. &c. are often 
found on the tops of moun- 



FLY 



81 



FOO 



tains, or buried in the earth, 
in the hardest strata, in solid 
rocks, in beds of marl, and in 
the bottoms of mines. 

FLOOR, the bottom of a 
room. 1 Kings vi. 15. The 
place where corn was thresh- 
ed out. Hos. ix. 1. Judges 
vi. 37. See Threshing- 
Floor- 

FLOTES, flat bottomed 
vessels, such as are now call- 
ed scows ; or a collection of 
trees, fastened together by 
ropes, to be drawn along by 
water, in the manner we 
make a raft. 1 Kings v. 9. 

FLUTE, a sweet, soft, 
wind instrument, of very an- 
cient date. We find it used 
in the time of David, 1 Kings 
i. 40, and at Nebuchadnez- 
zar's concert. Dan. iii. 5. 

FLY, an insect of which 
there are many kinds, some 
having two, and some four 
wings. Sonninisays, that in 
Egypt no insects are so troub- 
lesome as flies, which are 
there extremely rapacious 
and bold, attacking the tend- 
erest parts of the body, and 
creating almost unsupporta- 
ble pain. A single fly will 
throw an entire herd of cattle 
into consternation. Isa. vii. 
18. According to the custom 
of idolatrous countries, to 
worship what was hurtful, 
the Egyptians paid supersti- 
tious homage to several sorts 
of flies, so that nothing could 
he more determinate than the 



plague of them by Moses. 
Beelzebub, or the god of 
flies, was worshipped by the 
Philistines, Amorites, &c. 
because he was supposed tD 
defend his votaries from these 
distressing insects. 

FOOL, an idiot, or a very 
weak man ; one who fore- 
sees not evils to prevent them, 
and neglects the season of ob- 
taining what is good. In the 
language of Scripture, a sin- 
ner, in opposition to a prudent 
man ; one who makes some- 
thing in this world his high- 
est aim, and spends his chief 
time and labour about it, to 
the neglect of infinitely high- 
er interests. Those who up- 
braid their brethren as fools 
are in danger of hell. MatL 
v. 22. Whatever is without 
good reason, and does not se- 
cure men's true and eternal 
advantage, is foolish ; and 
hence we read of foolish talk- 
ing, foolish lusts, foolish ques- 
tions, &c. Eph.v. 4. 1 Tim. 
vi. 9. Tit. iii. 9. 

FOOT, that on which any 
animal or thing stands, or is 
supported ; a measure of 
twelve inches. In old times, 
it was customary to wash the 
feet of strangers after a jour- 
ney, because they either 
walked barefoot, or wore on- 
ly sandals. Gen. xviii. 4. xix. 
2. xxiv. 32. Widows, main- 
tained by the church, were 
to be such as had washed the 
feet of the saints ; that is, had 



FOX 



82 



FRA 



been ready to do the meanest 
services for the servants of 
God. 1 Tim. v. 10. Our 
blessed Saviour washed the 
feet of his apostles, and 
though there is not sufficient 
reason for regarding this as a 
positive institution, like the 
Lord's supper, yet it most 
plainly and movingly shows 
that Christians are to be very 
affectionate, and ready toper- 
form the most humble ser- 
vices for one another. 

FORGIVE, to. pardon an 
offence. To forgive sin, is 
the prerogative of God only. 
Isaiah xliii. 25. When the 
Pharisees, who denied the 
divinity of Christ, heard him 
forgiving sins, they said " this 
man blasphemeth." Matt, 
ix. 3. Christ having exer- 
cised this power, proves him 
to be divine. Acts v. 31. 

FOX. There is reason to 
think that the word shuol, 
means a jackal, and not a fox ; 
and that the true fox is not 
mentioned in all the Scrip- 
ture. Psalm lxiii. 10. Bar- 
barous nations of the east 
ravage the country they con- 
quer, leaving the habitations 
desolate, and the dead bodies 
unburied. These carcasses 
the jackals devour. David 
alludes to this, Ps. lxiii. 10, 
when he says his enemies 
iC shall be a portion for foxes." 
The true fox does not prey 
on carrion ; nor are our foxes 
fond of grapes, as jackals are 



known to be. Cant. ii. 15. 
Samson might have caught 
jackals by scores, but the 
fox is scarcely ever found in 
Judea, and is not a gregarious 
animal. The country ofjack- 
als is Asia Minor and the 
neighbouring countries. They 
choose hilly places, boldly 
approach travellers, and at 
night enter villages, always 
going in troops. The jackal 
is not so large as a wolf, but 
rather larger than a fox, and 
lives on small animals, 
grapes, vegetables, and car- 
cases. The general resem- 
blance of the fox and jackal, 
may have caused the sacred 
writers to use the term fox as 
comprehending similar ani- 
mals. J. C. Scaliger and 
Olearius, as quoted by Bo- 
chart, expressly call the jack- 
al a fox ; and Mr. Sandys 
says, " the jackals are in my 
opinion no other than foxes." 
Ksempfer says, the jackal may 
not improperly be called, the 
"wolf-fox." 

FRANKINCENSE, a 
gum, anciently much burnt 
in temples, and now used in 
medicine. It distils from in- 
cisions made in the tree dur- 
ing the heat of the summer, 
and when placed on live 
coals, sends up a dense fra- 
grant smoke. Some frankin- 
cense is brought from the 
East Indies-; but it is not 
equal to that of Arabia or 
Syria. The form of the frank- 



FRO 



83 



FRU 



incense tree, Pliny says, is 
like a pear-tree. Frankin- 
cense is still used in the Po- 
pish ceremonies, as well as 
by heathens. Ex. xxx. 34. 
Luke i. 10. Rev. viii. 4. 

FRAY, to chase away 
with fear. Deut. xxviii. 28. 

FROG, There are two 
species of frog, one of which 
lives in the water and the 
other on the land. The form- 
er was made the plague of 
Egypt. Ex. viii. As the 
frog in Egypt was the em- 
blem of Osiris, it was held 
sacred by the people ; and 
this plague is one of the many 
evident instances when Je- 
hovah punishes men by 
means of the very things they 
improperly regard. This is 
still more apparent when we 
consider that the Nile, in 
which they were produced, 
was supposed by the Egyp- 
tians to be peculiarly sacred, 
and deserving of religious 
veneration. Though the frog 
is not venomous, such legions 
of them penetrating every 
place, and filling their food 
and beds, rendered life intol- 
erable. When it is said, Ps. 
lxxviii. 45, " He sent frogs 
and destroyed them," it prob- 
ably means that the stench of 
them when killed, infected 
the air, and created pesti- 
lence. Had God sent lions, 
tigers, and crocodiles, instead 
of frogs, lice, flies, &c. the 
cause would have seemed so 



adequate to the effect, that 
his hand in the punishment 
might have been overlooked. 
Because frogs show them- 
selves most actively after a 
rain, some have foolishly im- 
agined that they are pro- 
duced by rain, or descend 
with it. 

FRONTLET, or Tele- 
phin, a browband, or fillet 
worn on the forehead. The 
Jews regardingthe command, 
Deut. vi. 8, 9, as intended 
literal!}', or being disposed to 
adopt the pagan custom of 
wearing amulets and talis- 
mans, wore these on their 
foreheads. See Phylac- 
tery. 

FRUIT, production, effect, 
consequence. " Fruit of 
cattle," is their young. 
" Fruit of the body," signi- 
fies children. Deut. xviii. 4. 
" Fruit of the lips," is the sac- 
rifice of praise and thanks- 
giving. Hebrews xiii. 15. 
; ' Fruits meet for repent- 
ance," are such a holy life 
and conversation, as manifest 
the reality of repentance. 
Matt. iii. 8. " Fruits of the 
Spirit," mean love both to 
God and our neighbours, and 
those gracious habits wrought 
by the Spirit in the soul ; as 
joy, peace, long suffering, 
gentleness, goodness, faith, 
meekness, and temperance. 
Gal. v. 22, 23. " Fruits of 
righteousness," Phil. i. llj 
are such good works and holy 



FUL 



84 



GAD 



actions as spring from a gra- 
cious frame of heart. Fruit, 
is taken for a charitable con- 
tribution, which is the fruit 
or effect of faith and love. 
Rom. xv. 28. Fruit, when 
spoken of good men, means 
works of righteousness and 
holiness ; but in regard to 
wicked men, it designates the 
effects of sin, immorality, and 
wickedness. See our Sa- 
viour's doctrine. Matt. vii. 
16. 

FULL, fulness. (1.) De- 
siring no more of a thing. 
Isa. i. 11. "I am full of the 
burnt offerings of rams." (2.) 
Perfect, that which wants 
nothing. 2 John viii. (3.) 
Such as are puffed up with a 
conceit of their own sufficien- 
cy and worth, so as to feel no 
need of Christ. " Wo unto 
you that are fall." Luke vi. 
25. To be "full of years," 
is to have lived to old age. 
(Jen. xxv. 8. " The fulness 
of time is the time wherein 
the Messiah appeared, which 
was appointed by God, prom- 
ised to the fathers, foretold 
by the prophets, expected by 
the Jews themselves, and 
earnestly longed for by all 
who looked for redemption ; 
the fulness of this time is 
when that time was fully 
come. Gal. iv. 4. The " ful- 
ness of God," is such a meas- 
ure of perfection as God hath 
appointed to every one of the 
elext through Christ. Eph. 



iii. 19. " That he might be 
filled with all the fulness of 
God," is sharing in the most 
ample manner in the un- 
searchable riches of Christ. 
FURLONG, the eighth part 
of a mile — forty rods, poles, 
or perches. Luke xxiv. 13. 
John xi. 18. 



G. 



GAB'BATHA, a word of 
Chaldee or Syriac origin, 
which means the pavement, 
a large court or apartment, 
used as Pilate's court room. 
John xix. 13. 

GABRIEL, the name of 
the archangel, mentioned 
Luke i. 11, 26, who appeared 
at different times to Daniel, 
Zacharias, &c. Daniel vii. 
x. xii. It is doubtful if there 
be more than one archangel, 
as the word never occurs in 
the plural. Some learned 
men think the term is applied 
to Christ. 

GAD. (1) The son of 
Jacob, by Zilpah. Gen. xxx. 
(2.) A tribe in Israel, deriv- 
ed from this patriarch. 
Numb. xxvi. 15—18. (3.) 
The name of the province or 
canton occupied by the tribe 
of Gad. lSam. xiii.7. (4.) 
A prophet, who lived in the 
days of David, of whose 
reign he wrote a history, as 



GAL 



85 



GAL 



did also Nathan the prophet ; 
neither of which seem to 
have been inspired, or at least 
were not preserved for our 
use. 1 Chron. xxix. 29. 

GAD'ARA, the capital of 
Peraea. in Coelo-Syria, stood 
about four miles eastward of 
the sea of Tiberias. Great 
numbers of swine were kept 
here, which was directly 
contrary to the Mosaic law. 
When Christ, in healing two 
possessed persons, suffered 
the devils to enter their herd 
of swine, and drown them, 
instead of being humbled by 
their punishment, they be- 
sought the Saviour to leave 
their country. About forty 
years after, the city was 
burntby the Romans. Mat- 
thew (chap. viii. 28,) calls 
this the country of the Ger- 
gesenes, because Gergesa 
was the name of the country 
where Gadara stood, or was a 
city near to Gadara ; and 
Christ healed the possessed 
men on the border betwixt 
the two, or in a place com- 
mon to both. Mark v. 1. It 
is now called Kadar, and 
sometimes Oom Kias. 

GALATIA, an extensive 
province of Asia Minor, north 
of Lycaonia. It was called 
Galatia, or Gaullogrecia, 
from the Gauls to whom 
Nicomedes, king of Bithynia, 
gave it as a reward for their 
having assisted hira in his 
wars against his brother. Its 



chief city was Ancyra, now 
called Angora. About 175 
years before Christ, it was 
reduced to a Roman province. 
The gospel was planted here 
by Paul, who wrote an epis- 
tle to these churches. Acts 
xvi. Dejotarus, for whom 
Tully interceded, in an ora- 
tion still extant, was king of 
this country. About A. D. 
266, it was overrun by the 
Goths ; and afterward be- 
came a province of Turkey. 
It is now called JVatolia. 

GAL'BANUM, an odo- 
riferous gum, supposed by 
Linnaeus, to be obtained by 
incision from the ferula gal- 
banifera, which' grows in 
Arabia, Syria, Africa, &c. It 
constituted an ingredient in 
the holy anointing oil. Ex. 
xxx. 34. 

GALILEE, the northern 
part of Canaan, comprehend- 
ing Issachar, Zebulun, Nap* 
thali, and Asher. The upper 
part was called Galilee of the 
Gentiles, from its containing 
many Gentile inhabitants out 
of the neighbouring nations; 
as the Phoenicians, Syrians, 
&c. This mixture of popu- 
lation corrupted the dialect; 
hence Peter was detected 
by his speech. Mark xiv. 
70. Our Saviour and most 
of the disciples were educa- 
ted here; and here were 
most of the miracles wrought* 
On this account, Jesus and 
his followers were often called 



GAR 



86 



GAR 



Galileans. Luke xxiii. 6. 
Acts ii. 7. 

Galilee, Sea of. See 
Gennesareth. 

GALL, a general name for 
whatever is very bitter, 
nauseous, or poisonous. Sev- 
eral different words, of the 
original Scriptures, are trans- 
lated by this term. In Job 
xvi. 13, it means the animal 
secretion so called. In Mat. 
xvii. 34, it seems synonymous 
with myrrh. The word oc- 
curs metaphorically, meaning 
great troubles, Jer. viii. 14. 
Exceeding wickedness, Amos 
vi. 12. Abominable deprav- 
ity of heart, Acts viii. 23. 

GALLIO was brother to 
Seneca, the famous moral- 
ist, and adopted son of Lucius 
Junius Gallio, for whom he 
was named. Under Clau- 
dius, he became governor of 
Achaia. He acted as a judge 
very mildly and properly, 
when a rabble, under the in- 
fluence of Sosthenes, accused 
Paul ; but he dreadfully err- 
ed in not inquiring into 
the nature of Christianity, 
and accepting its salvation. 
Acts xviii. 17. During the 
reign of the furious Nero, he 
was put to death. 

GAM'MADIMS, inhabi- 
tants of Gammade, or Gam- 
ale, which was probably a 
province of Phoenicia. Ezek. 
xxvii. 11. 

GARMENT. It was the 



the east gave a feast, to make 
a present to each guest of a 
robe to «wear on that occa- 
sion ; and sometimes the sil- 
ver or gold cup, out of which 
they drank, was also added. 
This explains Matt. xxii. 
11 — 13, which might other- 
wise seem severe. The man 
acted contemptuously, and 
insultingly, and merited his 
doom ; as all do who reject 
the robe of Christ's righteous- 
ness. Princes, especially 
great kings and priests, gen- 
erally wore white garments ; 
such were also worn on the 
occasions of great joy and 
gladness. Eccl. ix. 8. In 
mourning, men generally 
wore sackcloth, or hair cloth. 
Prophets, when their mes- 
sages were terrible, and the 
times dark, oft wore a mourn- 
ing dress of coarse stuff or 
skin. 2 Kings i. 7, 8. Mat. 
iii. 4. False prophets, in or- 
der to deceive the people, 
clothed themselves after the 
same manner. Zech. xiii. 
4. It was common to lay up 
stores of raiment, as the fash- 
ion of dress does not alter in 
the east. Hence the Saviour 
warns men of the folly of lay- 
ing up treasures which the 
moth may consume. Matt, 
vi. 19. Luke xii. 33. Jam. 
v. 2. 

What is said in Mat. ix. 16, 
" No man putteth a piece of 
new cloth into an old gar- 






custom when great men oflment," &c. is explained by 



GAT 



87 



GEN 



the parallel text in Luke v. 
36 ; " No man putteth a 
piece of a new garment upon 
an old" That is, no man 
cuts up a new coat to mend 
an old one. 

GATE, the entrance to a 
residence or fortified place. 
A large room was built over 
the gate on the wall of the 
city, used as a council cham- 
ber, and court of justice, or 
town hall. We have a re- 
markable example of the 
mode of procedure, in the 
fourth chapter of Ruth. It 
was here that Absalom made 
his seditious speeches. 2 
Sam. xv. Mordecai sat at the 
king's gate, not a poor men- 
dicant, but as a judge ; and 
therefore Raman said, " AH 
this availeth me nothing, so 
long as I see Mordecai the 
Jew sitting at the king's 
gate." Esther v. 13. Peace 
and war were proclaimed 
from the gate ; and hence, 
" the gates of hell," is> proper 
expression for the power and 
influence of hell, which shall 
not prevail against the church. 
Matt. xvi. 18. 

GATH, a city of Philistia, 
the capital of the people call- 
ed Gittites. It stood 14 
miles south of Joppa, and was 
one of the most ancient cities 
in the world. It still exists, 
though now a place of small 
consequence. Its present 
name is Jehna. 

Several other places ap- 



pear to have gone under 
this name. One in Galilee? 
where Jonah was horn, Josh, 
xix. 13. 2 Kings xiv. 25 > 
one in the tribe of Dan, and 
another in Manasseh. Josh, 
xxi. 24. 

GAZA. (1.) A city of 
the Ephraimites. 1 Chron. 
vii. 2S, now called Razza. 
(2.) A city between Pales- 
tine and Egypt, and about 
two miles and a half from the 
Mediterranean sea. It was 
anciently a city of the Philis- 
tines, but given to the tribe 
ofJudah, who conquered it, 
after the death of Joshua. 
Jud. i. 18. The Philistines 
retook it, and kept possession 
of it till the reign of David. 
Samson carried the gates of 
it almost to Hebron, and af- 
terward was imprisoned, and 
died in it. Jud. xvi. During 
the reign of David it was 
conquered by the Jews, and 
remained subject to them 
many years. During the 
conquests of Alexander, it 
was laid waste ; and a new 
town of the same name, be- 
ing laid out not far distant, it 
fell into decay, and became 
desolate, according to the 
prediction, Zeph. ii. 4. The 
old town is referred to in 
Acts viii. 26, as, " Gaza 
which is desert." 

GENEALOGY, a list of 
ancestors ; an account or his- 
tory of the rise, progress, and 
present state of any person 



GEN 



83 



GEN 



or family, showing the regu- 
lar descent. The exactness 
tif the Jews in this respect, 
was ordered by the special 
providence of God, that it 
might be certainly known, of 
what tribe and family the 
Messiah was born. After the 
birth of Christ, such circum- 
spection was unnecessary ; 
and if persisted in, could on- 
ly indicate an unchristian 
pride of ancestry, as will ap- 
pear from the words of the 
apostle Paul. 1 Tim. i. 4. 
Tit. iii. 9. 

GENERATION signifies 
in Scripture, (1.) Posterity, 
offspring. Gen. x. 1. (2.) 
Line of descent. The il book 
of the generation of Jesus 
Christ," is a history of his 
lineage, life, and death. Mat. 
i. 1» " This generation shall 
not pass away, till all these 
things be .fulfilled," means 
that the people living in the 
time of Christ, should not be 
all dead,when Jerusalem, and 
the Jewish nation, would be 
ruined by the Romans. Mat. 
xxiv. 34. The word may 
here be applied to the Jewish 
nation, which our Lord fore- 
tels should not pass away till 
his second coming. In ful- 
filment of this prophecy, we 
see them subsisting at this 
day, a distinct and separate 
generation. In Christ's time, 
the Jews were a faithless, 
perverse, and untoward gen- 
eration, Mark ix, 19, Acts 



ii. 40. The saints are u a 
chosen generation," or an 
elected race. 1 Pet. ii. 9, 
and i. 2. 

GENNES'ARETH, a fine 
lake, sixteen miles long, and 
five or six broad. Its waters 
are exceedingly sweet and 
pure, and abound with fish. 
The northern coast is said to 
be covered with basaltes, la- 
va, and other volcanic pro- 
ductions. Its edges are not 
marshy, but form sandy 
beaches, from which fine hills 
rise, covered once with the 
beauty of cultivation, but now 
silent and drear. It is very 
subject, from the character of 
the surrounding hills, to sud- 
den gusts of wind ; and when 
these come from the south, 
and oppose the current of the 
Jordan, its surface is very 
rough, as was the case when 
Christ walked on the water 
to his disciples. Matt. xiv. 
24—26. It is the same as the 
Sea of Tiberias, John xxi. 1, 
and Sea of Galilee, Matt. iv. 
18, and xiv. 34. 

GENESIS, the name of the 
first book of the Holy Scrip- 
tures. This title is derived 
from a Greek word, which 
signifies generation, or begin* 
ning. The book contains an 
account of the beginning or 
creation of the world, and 
settles forever that question 
which heathen sages could 
never decide from whence 
sprung this earth, and its in- 



GEN 



S9 



GER 



habitants. The disclosure of 
this grand truth, that the 
Author of all things is one 
glorious, supreme, and self- 
existent Being, establishes 
the grand principle and foun- 
dation of all religion and mo- 
rality, and is the great source 
of comfort and hope to the 
human family. 

This book comprises a pe- 
riod of 2369 years ; and be- 
side the history of the crea- 
tion, it contains an account of 
man's original innocence 
his fall ; the propagation of 
mankind ; the rise of religion ; 
the corruption of the world ; 
the deluge ; the repeopling 
and division of the earth ; the 
history of the first patriarchs ; 
and the settlement of Israel 
in Egypt. It was written by 
Moses; probably during his 
exile in the land of Midi an. 

GENTILE, a term applied 
by the Jews to all who were 
not of their religion ; one ig- 
norant of the true God ; a 
Heathen or Pa^an, some- 
times called a Greek. St. 
Paul is commonly called the 
Apostle of the Gentiles, or 
Greeks, 1 Tim. ii. 7, as he 
was principally sent to preach 
Christ to them ; Whereas St. 
Peter and the other Apostles 
preached generally to the 
Jews, and were therefore 
called the Apostles of the 
circumcision. Gal. ii. 7. 
That the ancient and godly 
Jews desired the conversion 
H 



of the Gentiles, appears from 
the prayer which Solomon 
addresses to God after th« 
dedication of the temple. 1 
Kings viii. 41—43. The 
Psalmist says that the Lord 
shall give the Gentiles to the 
Messiah for an inheritance. 
Ps. ii. 8. And the Christian 
church is now composed al- 
most wholly of Gentiles. 

GE'RAH, the least of Jew- 
ish money, being the twen- 
tieth part of a shekel. Ex. 
xxx. 13. 

GER'IZIM, a fine moun- 
tain in the tribe of Ephraim, 
on which the Samaritan 
temple was built, because 
the Jews would not allow the 
Samaritans to hefp them 
to build their temple. 2 
Kings xvii. Ezra iv. It was 
begun about B. C. 408 years. 
About the time it was finish- 
ed, two remarkable events 
occur in profane history, — 
Xe-^ophoiv brought home 
the Greeks that followed Cy- 
rus; and Socrates was put 
to death by the Athenians. 
This temple was destroyed 
by Hyrcanus, a Jewish 
Prince, 129 years before 
Christ. The Samaritans have 
continued to esteem the spot 
sacred, even to this day, of- 
ten going there to worship 
God. John iv. 20. It is 
about one thousand feel 
high. 

GERSHONITES, a branch 
of the priestly race, descended 



GIB 



90 



GIL 



from Gershon, the eldest son 
of Levii. 

GETHSEM'ANE, a re- 
tired garden at the foot of the 
Mount of Olives. Luke xxii. 
40. The remains of a stone 
wall are yet seen, and eight 
ancient olive trees. Matt. 
xxvi. 

GIANT, a man of extra- 
ordinary stature or might. 
That there were races of 
men in ancient times who far 
exceeded the present size of 
man, seems at least highly 
probable. Gen. vi. 4. Numb. 
xiii. 33. In the days of Da- 
vid, there was a family of 
giants, of whom Goliath was 
one. 2 Sam. xxi. After this, 
we read no more of giants in 
Canaan. Not only in Scrip- 
ture, but in the writings oi 
Homer, Herodotus, Pliny, 
Plutarch, Virgil, &c. we read 
of giants in stature. 



them to destroy, and whose 
country they were to occu- 
py. The covenant was kept 
by the Hebrews, though 
thus falsely obtained ; and in- 
stead of being destroyed, they 
were made to serve as hewers 
of wood, and drawers of wa- 
ter. Joshua ix. and x. 

GIFT, that which is giv- 
en without pay. It is applied 
in an eminent manner to 
Jesus Christ, God's " un- 
speakable gift." Our Lord 
says to the woman of Sama- 
ria, " If thou knewest the 
gift of God, viz. Him that 
saith to thee, give me to 
drink," &c. John iv. 10. 
When Christ ascended upon 
high, he received gifts for 
the rebellious. Ps. lxviii. 18. 
Of these he poured down on 
the day of Pentecost, and 
gave some apostles, prophets, 
&c. Faith is the gift of God, 



GIBEAH, a city of Benja- 1 Eph. ii. 8 ; and as the tcagcs 



min, situated on a fine hill 4 
miles north of Jerusalem. 
Josh. xv. 57. It was for a 
while the royal residence of 
Saul. 

GIBEON, a city 5 miles 
north of Jerusalem, the inhab- 
itants of which deceived Josh- 
ua by sending a deputation to 
him to make a treaty of 
peace, whose dress, &c. in- 
dicated that they had come 
from a very great distance, 
and consequently did not be- 
long to any of the nations 
which God had commanded 



of sin is death, so the " gift 
of God is eternal life." Rom. 
vi. 23. Every good and per- 
fect gift comes from God. 
Jam. i. 17. The gifts and 
calling of God are without 
repentance ; that is, what he 
hath given, according to his 
divine and^eternal purpose, 
cannot be reversed. 

GIL'BOA, a ridge of moun- 
tains in the north of Pales- 
tine. Some of the peaks rise 
1000 feet above the level of 
the sea. 1 Sam. xxviii. 4. 
GILEAD, a mountainous 



GLA 



91 



GLO 



district extending from Leba- 
non to Moab, eastward of the 
river Jordan, famous for 
balm, Jer. viii. 22, and for 
pasture. Songs iv. 1. The 
northern part of this range 
was called Bashan. 

GIL GAL. (1.) A city 
near Jericho, where was an 
altar. 1 Sam. xi. 15. Idols 
were worshipped here in af- 
ter times. Hos. iv. 15. (2.) 
A city near Antipatris, Josh, 
xii. 23. There remained a 
village on this spot, called 
Galgulis, for several hun- 
dred years after Christ. 

GIRDLE, any thing bound 
round the waist. It is still 
necessary in the east, be- 
cause of the long, loose rai- 
ment worn by both sexes. 
Girdles cf leather were worn 
in token of humility, as by 
Elijah, 2 Kings i. 8, and John 
the Baptist', Matthew iii. 4. 
Girdles of sackcloth were 
the marks of humiliation, and 
worn in times of mourning. 
Isa. iii. 24. To have the 
loins girded, Luke xii. 35, is 
to be always prepared for any 
service that God may re- 
quire, and be like servants 
who are ready to obey their 
master's commands. 

GLASS, is not mentioned 
in the Old Testament, having 
been unknown in those times. 
According to Pliny and Tac- 
itusj the Phenicians were the 
inventors of glass, but De 
Pans regards their narrative 



as fabulous. Mirrors were, 
in early times, made of plates 
of metal highly polished. 
Exodus xxxviii. 8. The 
Ethiopians anciently preserv- 
ed their dead bodies in large 
glasses. The invention of 
burning glasses is commonly 
ascribed to Archimedes, of 
Sicily, who lived about twfc 
hundred years before Christ. 
The word of God is compared 
to a glass, because it repre- 
sents to us our real character, 
as a glass does the face. Jas. 
i. 23, 25. This is one great 
internal evidence of the truth 
of Revelation. 

GLEDE, a ravenous bird, 
thought by Bochart to be the 
black vulture. Deut. xiv. 13. 
Isa. xxxiv. 15. 

GLORIFY, to pay divine 
honour ; to make glorious ; 
to exalt to glory or dignity. 
Thus God glorifies his people 
by adorning them with gifts 
and graces in this world, and 
by bringing them to the full 
possession of glory and bless- 
edness in heaven. We are 
said to glorify God, when we 
ascribe to him the glory of 
every excellency, whether 
of nature or of grace, Rev. 
iv. 11 ; when we believs 
God's promises, and wait for 
the performance, Rom. iv. 
20 ; when we pubMckly ac- 
knowledge true religion, or 
any special truth of God, that 
is generally opposed, Luke 
xxiii. 47 ; when we suffer-fbr 



GNA 



92 



GO A 



God, 1 Pet. iv. 16 ; when we 
give thanks to God for bene- 
fits or deliverances, Luke 
xvii. 18; when on the Sab- 
bath we devote ourselves on- 
ly to the service ot God, Isa. 
lviii. 13 ; and when we love, 
praise, admire, and esteem 
Christ above all. 

God the Father is glorified 
in Christ the Mediator, byhis 
obedience unto death, where- 
by the work of man's re- 
demption was consummated, 
and the justice, wisdom, mer- 
cy, and holiness of God made 
manifest. 

God glorified Christ, by 
manifestly owning him to be 
his Son ; by sustaining his 
human nature against the 
gates of hell, in his tempta- 
tions and sufferings ; and by 
enabling him to triumph over 
his people's enemies in his 
resurrection, ascension, and 
exaltation to his Father's 
right hand. John'xvii. 1. 

GLORY. (1.) The un- 
speakable blessedness of the 
saints in heaven. (2.) World- 
ly splendour and greatness. 
"The heavens declare the 
glory of God ;" that is, man- 
ifest his infinite wisdom, pow- 
er, and goodness, and ought 
to excite our gratitude, love, 
adoration, and praise. The 
miracles which our Saviour 
wrought manifested his glory, 
or his divine power. John 
hi. 11. 
GNAT, a 'small winged 



insect, very common in warm 
countries. This and other 
insects being apt to get into 
wine, &c. it is customary to 
pass liquors through a strain- 
er. The word at in Matt, 
xxiii. 24, should be out. u Ye 
strain out a gnat." The 
Greek word ^dX^ovts?, does? 
not mean to make an effort to 
swallow, but to filter. It_ 
should be remembered that 
by the Jewish law, both 
gnats and camels were un- 
clean. 

GOAT, a well known an- 
imal, of which there are sev- 
eral varieties. The kind 
most common in Palestine, 
is not very unlike those of 
the United States, but has 
longer hair, which is manu- 
factured into cloth. There is 
a species called Rock Goat, 
mentioned in several passages 
of Scripture, and which, be- 
ing of a singular form, is rep- 
resented in the annexed en- 
graving. Its size is less than 
the common wild goat. The 
horns are of extraordinary 
size, bending back over the 
animal's body, sometimes to 
the length of three feet. Like 



other goats, it is peculiarly 
adapted for climbing, and de- 
lights in the most rugged 
mountains, staying at great 
elevation. Job xxxix. 1. Ps. 
civ. 8. 1 Samuel xxiv. 2. 

The goat was worshipped 
byMhe Egyptians, Greeks 
and Romans, who represent 




THE ROCK GOAT. 



Called by Pliny, Gesner, &c. Ibex ; by BufTon, 
Sonnini, &c. Bouq,ueti:n\ The Germans' familiar 
name of this animal is Steii^-Bock, or Buck of the 
Rock. Found in all the great mountains of northern 
Europe and Asia. 



GOD 



95 



COD 



ed the god Pan, their satyrs 
and other idols, in the form 
of goats. The word seirim 
rendered " devils," Lev. 
xvii. 21, is literally hairy 
ones, or goats. The same 
word is translated satyrs, 
Isa. xiii. 21. We read in 
Maimonides, that the Za- 
bian idolaters worshipped 
daemons, under the form of 
goats imagining them to ap- 
pear in that form ; whence 
they called them seirim. 

The tresses of the spouse, 
Cant. iv. 1, and vi. 4, are 
compared to goat's hair, 
which obviously refers to the 
delicate, silken hair of the 
eastern goats. From such 
goafs hair, are made the An- 
gola shawls. 

The goat was eminently 
useful to the Hebrews, on 
account of the delicacy of its 
flesh, the excellence of its 
fleece, the richness and 
abundance of its milk, the 
cheapness of its food, the val- 
ue of its skin for bottles, &c. 
Flocks of goats, therefore, 
formed a part of the wealth 
of all great men. 

GOD, the Supreme, Al- 
mighty, and Eternal One, of 
whom are all things. How- 
ever ignorant of the true 
character of God, all men, in 
all ages, have, in one degree 
or another, acknowledged the 
existence of a God. 

The names applied to the 
Godhead in Scripture, are 



various ; and have each their 
respective significations, ap- 
plicable to the characters in 
which God has been pleased 
to reveal himself. The words 
Jehovah Elohim, occur mora 
than once in Genesis as the 
name of the Godhead. " And 
the Lord God (Jehovah Elo- 
him) said, Behold the man is 
become like cne of us." 
Gen. iii. 22. One of us, un- 
avoidably implies a plurality 
of persons. We may talk in 
a general way about the 
power, goodness, and other 
attributes of God ; but from 
the Scriptures only, can we 
form any just ideas of his glo- 
rious character. 

GODHEAD means the 
nature or essense of God. 
Col. ii. 9. Rom. i. 20. Acts 
xvii. 29. 

GODLINESS, the whole 
revelation of God : Thus Paul 
says, " Great is the mystery .of 
godliness." 1 Tim. iii. 16. 
It sometimes means the imita- 
tion of God, by a holy life. 
1 Tim. ii. 2. 2 Pet. iii. 11., 

GODLY, that which pro- 
ceeds from, or resembles 
God ; thus godly sorrow, is 
the sorrow which God only 
can produce, and worketn 
repentance. 2 Cor. vii. It). 
Godly fear is that fear of God 
which is the beginning of 
wisdom, Heb. xii. 28 ; and a 
godly man is he who loves 
God from a sense of much 
forgiveness, ?s. xii. I. 



GOL 



96 



GOP 



GOG and Magog are 
terms usually joined together 
in Scripture, on which crit- 
ics have expended much un- 
satisfactory labour. The 
probability seems to be that 
the northern barbarians are 
meant, or some of the tribes 
comprehended under the 
general term Scythians, 
whose irruptions into civiliz- 
ed Europe and Asia were so 
dreadful. Ezek. xxxviii. and 
xxxix. Rev. xx.8. 

GOLD ; the most precious 
metal ; seldom found in a 
state of ore, but in a native 
state; though even native 
gold has almost always some 
mixture of other metals. Na- 
tive gold is found in pure 
masses, from the smallest 
grains up to the magnitude of 
12 or 15 ounces, and occa- 
sionally much larger. A 
tnass found in South Ameri- 
ca, weighing 132 ounces, is 
deposited in the Royal Cabi- 
net at Madrid. It is found 
mingled with the sand of 
many rivers, especially in 
Africa. South America and 
India. North Carolina, in the 
United States, is becoming 
famous for its gold mines. 
Gold is often found bedded 
in stones of various kinds, and 
even in the earth at the depth 
of one hundred and fifty fath- 
oms. It is the most ductile 
of all metals, an ounce of it, 
not larger than a common 
bullet, having been drawn 



into a wire two hundred and 
forty miles long ! It is inca- 
pable of oxidization, in a com- 
mon fire, but the heat pro- 
duced by a galvanic dis- 
charge, can be made suffi- 
cient to convert the whole of 
the metal into a purple oxide. 
If exposed to the focus of a 
strong burning glass, it flies 
ofTin small particles. It re- 
quires less heat to melt gold 
than iron. Arabia had form- 
erly its gold mines. " The 
gold of Sheba," Ps. lxxii. 15, 
is in the Septuagint and 
Arabic versions, the gold of 
Arabia. 

GOL'GOTHA. See Cal- 
vary. 

GOLI'ATH, a famous'glant 
of Gath, whose height was 
eleven feet four inches. His 
brazen helmet weighed about 
fifteen pounds avoirdupois ; 
his target, or collar affixed 
between his shoulders to de- 
fend his neck, about thirty ', 
his spear was twenty-six feet 
long, and its head weighed 
thirty-eight pounds ; his 
sword four ; his greaves on 
his legs thirty ; and his coat 
of mail one hundred and fif- 
ty six ; and so the whole ar- 
mour, two hundred and sev- 
enty-three pounds weight. 

GO'PHER, the wood of 
which . the ark was built ; 
which kind it was, is not 
agreed. As it is scarcely 
probable that a structure so 
large, was wholly made of 



GOS 



97 



GOV 



any one species of wood, 
it is possible the word may 
mean light, or durable wood. 
It occurs only in Gen. vi. 
14. 

GOSHEN ; there are two 
districts so called in Scrip- 
ture, which it is very impor- 
tant should not be confound- 
ed. (1.) That portion of 
Egypt, allotted to the He- 
brews, and mentioned so of- 
ten in the books of Genesis 
and Exodus. (2.) A district 
of the Holy Land, included 
in the lot of Judah, and men- 
tioned, Josh. x. 41, and xi. 
16, &c. 

GOSPEL, good news; a 
revelation of the grace of 
God to fallen man, through 
a Mediator ; and a means, 
which, by the Spirit, saves 
men from perdition. The 
word is also used to mean the 
narrative of our Saviour's life, 
death, and resurrection ; and 
sometimes for the doctrines 
contained in that narrative. 
The term is found in ancient 
Greek writers. Plutarch, in 
his life of Pompey, says the 
messenger arrived at Pon- 
tus, " bringing the gospel," 
i. e. the joyful intelli- 
gence. 

The books of Matthew, 
Mark, Luke, and John, are 
commonly called Gospels. 
They show, as has been said, 
the way of salvation. They 
also exhibit a morality incom- 
parably superior to that of all 



other books ; in forbidding 
not only acts of sin, but the 
first risings of evil desires in 
the heart; by inculcating 
the mild, passive, and lovely 
virtues, instead of that high 
spirited and proud temper, 
which the world admires ; by 
requiring the forgiveness of 
enemies, and the love of them 
that hate us; by excluding 
from our alms, devotions, 
and other virtues, all love of 
fame ; by laying down two 
great principles of morality, 
love to God, and love to men ; 
and by deducing thence ev- 
ery other duty ; by exhibit- 
ing a perfect exemplification 
of all these excellencies in 
Christ ; and by adding those 
awful sanctions which relate 
to an eternal world. 

The number of mankind 
living in nations enlightened 
by the gospel, is probably 

THREE HUNDRED MIL- 
LIONS, only. Of these one 
half are Roman Catholics, 
and thirty millions arc 
Greeks, whose churches are 
scarcely less corrupt than the 
Roman Catholic. 

GOURD. What plant it 
was, so called, that sheltered 
Jonah, cannot now be ascer- 
tained. The statement of the 
various opinions of critics 
would not be useful. It suf- 
fices us to know it was a 
shady plant. 

The Wild Gourd, 2 Kings 
iv. 39, Celcius supposes to 



GRE 



98 



GRI 



be the eolocynth, a species of 
cucumber. 

GRACE. Favour or mer- 
cy. Divine grace is the 
free and undeserved love and 
favour of God, which is the 
spring and source of all the 
benefits we receive from 
him, especially redemption 
through Jesus Christ. Rom. 
xi. 6. Grace is taken for a 
lively sense of this favour, 
or the love and fear of God 
dwelling in the heart, 2 Cor. 
i. 12 J and for the doctrine of 
the gospel, which proceeds 
from the grace of God. 2 
Cor. vi. 1. 

GRASSHOPPER, a well 
known species of locust, and 
very destructive to vegeta- 
tion. Amos vii. 1. The law 
allowed them to he eaten. 
Lev. xi. 22. When it is said 
the grasshopper shall prove 
a burden, Eccl. xii. 5, it 
means that so feeble and 
languid is extreme old age, 
that the smallest annoyance 
or burden, is distressing. 

GREAVES, that part of a 
coat of mail which defended 
the feet. 1 Sam. xvii. 16. 

GREECE, in Hebrew Ja- 
van, Isa. Ixvi. 19 ; a country 
on the south-east of Europe : 
largely taken, it contained 
the Peloponnesus, or Morea. 
Achaia, Thessaly, Macedo- 
nia, if not also Epirus on 
the west of Macedonia, &c; 
but, more strictly taken, it 
contained the three former. 



It is about four hundred 
miles from south to north, 
and three hundred and fifty- 
six from east to west. Its 
present divisions are, Mace- 
donia, Albania, Livadia, the 
Morea, the Archipelago, and 
Candia. It was probably 
peopled soon after the flood. 
Few countries are more fa- 
voured by nature, as to its 
soil,clim ate and productions. 
Many of the most famous 
statesmen, orators, and gen- 
erals of antiquity, had their 
birth here. The arts and 
sciences in Greece attained 
a great eminence, as did al- 
so poetry and eloquence. 

GRIND, to bruise small, 
as meal is bruised in a mill. 
Anciently they had only 
hand-mills for grinding their 
meal. The stones were 
about the size of a common 
grind-stone. Women, and 
slaves, such as Samson was 
at Gaza, and the Hebrews 
at Babylon, were usually the 
grinders. Jud.xvi.21. Lam. 
v. 13. They sat on each 
side of the mill. Matt. xxiv. 
41 . A clear apprehension of 
the form of the mill and 
method of operating it, may 
be obtained from the picture. 
it does not appear that 
there were any public mills 
or bakers, except for the 
king ; each family had a mill 
for itself, which being so 
necessary could not lawfully 
be taken in pledge or for a 




TWO WOMEN GRINDING AT A MILL. 



HAB 



101 



HAM 



debt. Deut. xxiv. 6. As it 
was customary to grind every 
evening, the desolation of a 
city is called " taking away 
the sound of the mill stones.' 
Jeremiah xxv. 10. Christ's 
falling on men, and " grind- 
ingthemtopowder,"denotes 
his rendering them utterly 
miserable for their contempt 
and rejection of him. 

GRIZZLED, coloured 
with various shades ; brind- 
led. When applied to horses, 
it perhaps means horses 
spotted, like dogs, with large 
patches of various colours. 
Zech. vi. 3. 



H. 

HABAK'KUK prophesi- 
ed during the reign of Ma- 
nasseh and Josiah, and was 
cotemporary with Jeremiah. 
Usher supposes that his life 
extended to the reign of 
Jehoiakin. He predicts the 
chastisement of the Jews by 
the Chaldeans, and the sub- 
sequent overthrow of the 
Chaldeans themselves ; and 
encourages the pious to rely 
upon God for making good 
his promises to their poster- 
ity. 

HABER'GEON, a breast- 
plate worn by soldiers in 
former times. Ex. xxviii. 
32. The name seems to be 



given to a sort of lance or 
harpoon. Nehemiah iv. 16, 
Job xli. 26. 

HAGGAI, the first of the 
three Jewish prophets that 
flourished after the captivi- 
ty, was born in Chaldea, and 
began his public work of 
prophesying, about seven- 
teen years after the return 
from Babylon. He, togeth- 
er with Zechariah, mighti- 
ly excited and encouraged 
their brethren to finish the 
building of the temple, as- 
suring them that the Mes- 
siah should appear in the 
flesh, teach in the courts of 
the new temple, and render 
it more glorious than the 
first. Ezra. v. 1, 2. Haggai i. 
and ii. 

HALE or Haul, to drag 
violently. Luke xii. 58. 

HALLELU'JAH, a He- 
brew word signifying Praise 
the Lord, frequently met 
with in the Psalms and Rev- 
elation. 

HALLOW, to reverence 
as holy. Matt. vi. 10. 

HAM, the son of Noah, 
had four sons, viz. Cush, 
Mizraim, Phut, and Canaan. 
His posterity people Africa, 
and part of the west of Asia. 
They have been generally 
wicked and miserable, and 
few of them have hitherto 
enjoyed the light of the gos- 
pel. From him the land of 
Egypt was called Chemia, or 
the land of Ham. 



HAR 



102 



HAR 



HAPLY; possibly, per- 
haps, peradventure. Mark 
xi. 13. Acts v. 39. 

HARAN. (1.) The eldest 
brother of Abraham, whose 
daughter Sarah, Abraham 
married. (2.) A town of this 
name probably called after 
this person stood on a small 
river of the same name 
which flowed into the Eu- 
phrates through the north 
western part of Mesopota- 
mia, Nearthis town occurred 
the celebrated defeat by the 
Parthians of the Roman ar- 
my under Crassus, who was 
slain with 20,000 of his men, 
B. C. 53. The place still 
retains its ancient name, and 
is peopled by a fev/ Arabs. 

HARNESS, properly the 
furniture of a horse, Jere- 
miah xlvi. 4; but it means 
more frequently a coat of 
mail, or a set of defensive 
armour for a w T arrior. 1 
Kings xxii. 34. The child- 
ren of Israel went up out of 
Israel harnessed, that is, 
equipped for battle. 

HARP, an instrument 
composed of a hallow base, 
with two branches, to which 
were fastened three, six, or 
nine strings. That kind in- 
vented by Jubal, the de- 
scendant of Cain, and used 
by the ancients, is now dis- 
used. From Isaiah's saying 
that his bowels sounded in 
mourning as a harp, and 
from other evidences, It * 



would seem that its sound 
was grave and plaintive. It 
was capable, however, of 
producing the most majestic 
sounds, suited to the high 
praises of God. 2 Sam. vi. 5. 
During the captivity in Bab- 
ylon, the Levitical singers 
hung their harps, as useless, 
on the willow trees on the 
banks of the Euphrates and 
other rivers in Chaldea. Ps. 
cxxxvii. 2. The Greeks 
and Romans derived the 
harp from the eastern bar- 
barians. The modern harp 
is one of the noblest of in- 
struments, and is vastly su- 
perior in power and accura- 
cy to those in ancient use- 

HARVEST, the time of 
gathering the fruits of the 
earth. In Canaan it began 
in March, and was finished 
about the middle of May. 
Any time of gainful labour 
is called harvest; hence a 
il sleeper in harvest causeth 
shame" to himself and his 
friends. Prov. x. 5. A peo- 
ple ripened by sin for de- 
struction, are likened to a 
harvest ready for the sickle 
of God's vengeance. Isa. 
xviii. 5. Joel iii. 13. Rev. 
xiv. 15. A remarkable time 
of success of the gospel is 
called harvest. Matt. ix. 
37, 38. John iv. 35. The day 
of judgment is likened to a 
harvest ; then all things 
shall be ripe for a dissolu- 
tion. Matt. xiii. 



HEA 



103 



HEA 



HEAR, to receive sounds 
by the ear. To hear the 
word of God, means, a mere 
listening without laying to 
heart, Matt. xiii. 19 ; and 
also to yield a willing as- 
sent, with a firm purpose to 
believe and obey it. John 
viii. 47. God is said to 
hear prayer, when he grants 
our requests. 

HEART. The seat of 
the affections and passions. 
God only knows it. Jer. xvii. 
10. The Lord Jesus Christ, 
who demonstrated his God- 
head on many occasions, by 
searching the heart, de- 
clares that from the heart of 
man proceeds every evil. 
Matt. xv. 18. As the great 
evil which corrupts and de- 
files the heart, is unbelief; 
so the only purifier of the 
heart mentioned in the 
Scripture is faith. Acts xv. 
9. " With the heart man 
believeth unto righteous- 
ness;" that is, sincere and 
saving faith engages the af- 
fections. Kom. x. 10. This 
is called the " righteousness 
of faith." Rom. iv. 13. 

HEATH, a lowly shrub, 
growing in desert places ; 
whence such barren spots 
are called in England heaths, 
whether that plant be found 
on them or not. It bears no 
fruit, is worthless, as fodder, 
and is reckoned by Pliny 
among " unhappy plants." 
Men who trust in man and 



not in God, are" like the 
heath in the desert," which 
vainly strikes its roots into 
a soil not capable of giving 
it vigour. Jer. xvii. 6. To 
this lonely unpleasant plant, 
persons are compared who 
fly their country or homes, 
and endure hardships in se- 
cluded places. Jer. xlviii. 6. 
HEATHEN, a term 
which like the word Gentile, 
was applied by the Jews to 
all who were not Hebrews. 
It is now confined to those 
who worship false gods ; and 
includes all those who are 
not Jews, Mahommedans, 
or Christians. More than 
two thirds of the human 
race belong to this class. 
The countries which are 
yet pagan are all that part 
of Africa which lies between 
the tropic of Cancer and 
the Cape of Good Hope, the 
Aborigines of North and 
South America, China, Bur- 
mah, Hindostan, Tartary, 
Japan, and many islands in 
the Indian and other oceans. 
They are called Pagans, 
from the Greek word srajyij 
(jpaga) a fountain, or rural 
place ; or from the Latin 
word Paganus, a country- 
man, or rustic, because 
Christianity was first taught 
and planted in cities, while 
the ignorant country people 
adhered longer to their old 
superstitions. It is a strong 
argument in favour of Chris- 



HEA 



104 



HEB 



tianity , that it seeks not con- 
cealment, to work on igno- 
rance ; but comes forth to the 
day and challenges learn- 
ing and power. Its early 
conquests were in the chief 
cities of the earth, where 
education was most enjoyed ; 
and in all ages, learning and 
science have been its hand- 
maids. See Gentile. 

HEAVEN, the habitation 
of God, where his power 
and glory are more immedi- 
ately and fully manifested, 
and where good angels and 
pure departed souls pay 
their continual adoration ; 
the residence or abode of the 
blessed ; the sacred man- 
sion of light, and joy, and 
glory, where the body will 
be revived to a glorious life, 
and the soul live in constant 
communion with God in 
Christ. It is sometimes 
used for the regions above, 
or that vast expanse where 
the stars are disposed. Gen. 
i. 17. Sometimes for the 
common atmosphere or low- 
er region of air, where the 
birds fly. Job xxxv. 11. 

HEAVE-OFFERING was 
the name given to portions 
of animals, grain, meal, 
fruits, <&c. brought by the 
people for the use of the 
Priests and Levites ; and 
which were first heaved or 
waved before God as an of- 
fering to him. Numbers 
xv. 20. 



HEBREWS, descendants 
of Abraham. Some learned 
men suppose the name to be 
derived from Heber, an an- 
cestor of Abraham. It is 
more probable that they re- 
ceived it from their coming 
from beyond the river, as 
the word means to pass over. 
An " Hebrew of the He- 
brews,' is one, both ot 
whose parents are Hebrews. 
Phil. iii. 5. Sometimes only 
those Jews were called He- 
brews |who spoke the He- 
brew language, in contradis- 
tinction to the Jews who 
spoke the Greek, Acts vi. 1. 

When the Epistle to the 
Hebrews was written seems 
uncertain. Perhaps Paul 
wrote it towards the close 
of his first imprisonment at' 
Rome. 

HE'BRON, called origi- 
nally Arba, or Kirjath-arba, 
because Arba, the noted gi- 
ant, was king of it. It was 
built on a hill, not long af- 
ter the flood. Numb. xiii. 
22 ; and stood 22 miles south 
of Jerusalem, Here Anak 
and his father and sons 
dwelt ; but Caleb receiving 
it for his inheritance, ex- 
pelled these giants, and it 
seems called it Hebron, af- 
ter one of his sons. Josh. 
xiv. 13, 14. It was made a 
city of refuge, and given to 
the priests. David reigned 
here seven years over Ju- 
dah, before he was crowned 



HER 



105 



HER 



sole monarch of Israel. 2 
Sam. ii. 11, and v. 3. Here 
Absalom first set up for 
king. 2 Sam. xv. It is now 
little else than a heap of 
ruins, compared to its form- 
er extent and beauty. The 
number of houses is esti- 
mated at 400. It was visit- 
ed by Mr. Fisk in 1824, who 
informs us that its present 
name is Haleel Rahman. 

HELL, the place of pun- 
ishment for the wicked after 
this life ; also the grave or 
state of the dead. By the 
"gates of hell," Matt. xvi. 
18, is meant the power and 
policy of the devil and his 
instruments. The expres- 
sion is derived from the fact 
that courts of legislation and 
justice were often held in 
rooms at or over the gates 
of walled cities. It is there- 
fore equivalent to saying 
the eounsels of hell. 

HELMET, a cap of metal 
or strong leather for protect- 
ing a soldier's head, 1 Sam. 
xvii. 5. Salvation is God's 
helmet; the hope of it ren- 
dering God's people coura- 
geous in their spiritual war- 
fare. Eph. vi. 17. 1 Thes. 
v. 8. 

HERESY, an opinion 
contrary to the fundamental 
principles of religion, fol- 
lowed with obstinacy, and 
a firm refusal of conviction. 
Christianity was called a 
sect or heresy by Tertullus 



and the profane Jews. Acts 
xxiv. 5, 14. 

HERMON,the most ele- 
vated summit in the range 
of the AntiLebanus; 8950 
feet above the level of the 
sea. The Sidonians called 
it Sirion, and the Amorites, 
Shenir. Deut. iii. 9. The 
dew that falls on it is copi- 
ous and refreshing. Psalm 
cxxxiii. 3. The snow lies 
on it most part of the sum- 
mer, and was thence carried 
to Tyre, as ice is brought 
into our cities, and sold in 
the summer. 

HER'OD. Four persons 
of this name are mentioned 
in the New Testament. 

1. Herod the Great, 
the son of Antipater, was 
born about seventy years 
before our Saviour. His 
father is, by some, said to 
have been a Jew ; by others, 
an Idumean proselyte. He 
vanquished and extirpated 
the family of the Maccabees 
about 37 years before Christ. 
His diameter was exceed- 
ingly ferocious and sensual. 
His frequent murders and 
ungovernable temper, ren- 
dered him miserable ; and 
to occupy his thoughts, as 
well as to ingratiate himself 
with the Jews, he rebuilt 
their temple, and rendered 
it exceedingly stately and 
glorious. He also built 
other important edifices, and 
instituted various public 



HER 



106 



HER 



sports. When the wise men 
from the east made inquiry 
in Jerusalem for the new 
born king of the Jews, he 
desired them to bring him 
back word where and how 
he might find him, being 
resolved to murder him, 
while but an infant. Being 
disappointed, he ordered to 
be destroyed every child in 
and about Bethlehem, under 
two years old, that he might 
make sure of murdering the 
Messiah among them. He 
died in a miserable manner, 
a year or two after this atro- 
cious action. 

2. Herod Ajttipas had 
the tetrarchy of Galilee and 
Perea, by the last will of his 
father Herod the Great. He 
divorced his first wife, and 
took Kerodias, the wife of 
Philip, who still lived. For 
this incestuous marriage, 
John the Baptist reproved 
him, which caused him to 
imprison and finally behead 
that great teacher. John 
xiv. 3—12. This was the 
Herod to whom Pilate sent 
our Saviour, and by whom 
he was mocked and arrayed 
in a gorgeous robe. Luke 
xxiii. 8 — 11. He was uncle 
to Herod Agrippa, and great 
uncle to that Agrippa who 
was by Paul's discourse 
" almost persuaded .to be a 
Christian." 

3. Herod Agrippa, the 
son of Aristobulus, grandson 



of Herod the Great, was ap- 
pointed by Caligula to the 
government of Abilene. 
About A. D. 44, or perhaps 
49, he caused the murder of 
James the son of Zebedee. 
Observing the Jews pleased 
with this, he apprehended 
Peter, intending to murder 
him also, for their farther 
gratification ; but Provi- 
dence defeated his designs, 
by cutting him off in a mis- 
erable manner at Cesarea, 
where he was flattered by 
the multitude ciying out 
that he spoke like a God. 
Acts xii. and xxiii. 35. He 
had reigned seven or ten 
years, and been the father 
of Agrippa, Bernice, Dru- 
silla, and Mariamne. 

4. Herod Agrippa ii., 
son of the preceding, is men- 
tioned in the New Testa- 
ment, only by the name of 
Agrippa. He was born 
A. D. 20. Festus brought 
Paul before him, who almost 
persuaded him to be a chris- 
tian. Acts xxv. and xxvi. 
After the destruction of 
Jerusalem, he went to 
Rome, where he died, aged 
70. 

HERODIANS, a sect 
among the Jews, so named, 
from Herod the Great. It 
is thought, by some, he was 
regarded by them as the 
promised Messiah. 

HER'ON, a bird of the 
crane species. It is only 



HOL 



107 



LION 



mentioned Lev. xi. 19, and 
Deut. xiv. 18. 

HID'DEKEL, the same 
as the Tigris, a noble river 
rising in the mountains of 
Armenia, and issuing in the 
Persian gulf. On it once 
stood the great cities Nine- 
veh, Ctesiphon, and Selu- 
cia ; and at present, the 
cities of Bagdad, Mosul, 
Diarbekir, &c. Gen. ii. 14. 
Dan. x. 4. 
HIERAP'OLIS,acitynear 
Colosse, early blessed with 
gospel light. Col. iv. 13. 
It was destroyed by an 
earthquake, in the times of 
the Apostles. The ruins 
are still visible, and the 
place is called by the Turks, 
Pambuk Kalasi. 

HIND, a female deer, no- 
ted for elegance of form and 
affection to its mate. Prov. 
v. 19. Like other deer it is 
swift and sure footed. Ps. 
xviii. 33. 

HIN, a liquid measure, 
containing about three of 
our quarts. It was the sixth 
part of an ephah. 

H1NNOM. See Tophet. 

HOLY; pious, religious, 
Mark vi. 20 ; sacred, divine, 
Luke i. 72; hallowed, con- 
secrated to divine use, Matt. 
vii. b\ Luke ii. 23 ; pure, 
free from the pollution of 
sin. Eph. i. 4. Col. i. 22. ' 
It is applied to the Trinity — 
to the Father, Lev. xix. 2, 
Ps. cxlv. 17; to the Son, 



Ps. xvi. 10. Luke i. 35. iv. 

34, Acts iii. 14 ; and it is 
the common epithet of the 
third person of the glorious 
Trinity. It is applied also 
to angels, Matt. xxv. 31 ; 
and to persons and things 
dedicated to God,Exo. xxx, 

35. xxxi. 14. The saints 
are called holy, by separa- 
tion and choice, 1 Pet. ii. 9 ; 
by the imputation of Christ's 
holiness or righteousness to 
them, Ezek. xvi. 14. 2 Cor. 
v. 21 ; by partaking of a ho- 
ly principle of grace, where- 
by the soul is renewed in 
holiness by degrees, till it 
attain a perfection of it. 
Heb. xii. 23. 

HOMER, a H ebre w meas- 
ure of twenty-four bushels, 
thought to be the same as 
the Cor. Ezek. xlv. 14. 

HONEY was produced 
in great quantities in the 
land of Palestine, and was 
an article of exportation. 
Ezek. xxvii. 17. It was of- 
ten called " a land flowing 
with milk and honey." Be- 
side the bees raised in yards, 
multitudes were wild and 
laid up their stores in hol- 
low trees and fissures of 
rocks. Matt. iii. 4. Deut. 
xxxii. 13. Campbell, in 
his Travels in Africa, says 
" The bees have a habit of 
plastering their honey on 
the surface of rocks in cliffs ; 
which, for its protection, 
they cover with a layer of 



HOP 



108 



HOS 



dark coloured wax, not easi- 
ly distinguished from the 
rock itself. By making an 
incision in this outer coat, 
and applying his mouth, a 
person would suck out plen- 
ty." Deut. xxxii.13. The 
ancients used honey, as we 
do sugar, and prized it high- 
ly ; hence it is an image of 
pleasure. Psalm cxix. 103. 
Cant. iv. 11, &c. 

A sweet syrup procured 
from ripe dates, seems to 
have borne this name. The 
word rendered " honey," in 
2 Chron. xxxi. 5, properly 
signifies dates. Josephus 
mentions palm honey. Bo- 
chart, Celsius, and Geddes, 
consider the honey mention- 
ed Gen. xliii. 11, to be of 
this sort. 

HOPE, a prospect, real or 
imaginary, which we think 
on with pleasure, and are 
desirous of obtaining. The 
emotion is also called hope. 
The Christian's hope of 
eternal happiness and glory 
in heaven, is founded on the 
merits, the blood, the grace, 
the promises, and spirit of 
Christ, and the unchangea- 
ble truth and almighty pow- 
er of God. Divine hope is 
distinguished from carnal 
presumption, by its insep 
arable effect, a cleansing ef- 
ficacy by the assistance of 
the Holy Spirit. 1 John iii. 
3. Jesus Christ is styled 
" the hope of Israel," Acts 



xxviii. 20, as he was promis- 
ed by God, his manner of 
coming foretold by the 
prophets, and the event ex- 
pected by the people of Is- 
rael. He is called " our 
hope," 1 Tim. i. 1, because 
he is the only foundation on 
which to build our hope of 
any real good here, or of 
heaven hereafter. It is 
sometimes taken for that 
eternal salvation, which is 
the object or end of our 
hope. Titus ii. 13. 

HORN, a word used in 
Scripture as the symbol of 
strength, Deut. xxxiii. 17. 
Jer. xlviii. 25, Hab. iii. 4. 
Hence kingdoms are repre- 
sented as horns. Dan. viii. 
Rev. xiii. 1, and xvii. 3. 

HORNET, an insect like 
a wasp, with a black breast, 
and double black spots. It 
is extremely bold, and mis- 
chievous ; the sting is at- 
tended with great pain and 
inflammation, and even dan- 
ger of death. Great swarms 
of them plagued the Canaan- 
ites in the days of Joshua. 
Deut. vii. 20. Josh. xxiv. 
12. It is said in the place 
last quoted, that the hornets 
" drove out!' two kings and 
their people. The learned 
Bochart has traced some of 
these colonies into Greece, 
and the Talmudical writers 
say some passed into Africa. 
. HOSANNA, an exclama- 
tion of praise, or invocation 



HOS 



109 



HOU 



of blessing. It was a com- 
mon word with the Jews, 
and seems to mean literally, 
save now. The multitude 
who uttered this cry before 
Christ, probably indicated 
by it their desire and hope 
that he would now, as their 
Messiah, raise up their na- 
tion from its misfortunes. 
Matt. xxi. 9 — 15. 

HOSEA,the first of the 
minor prophets as arranged 
in our Bibles. These twelve 
books are called minor 
prophets, not from their 
inferiority, but from their 
brevity. He lived a long time 
and prophesied under four 
kings, viz. Uzziah, Jotham, 
Ahaz, and Hezekiah. The 
book of Hosea, which seems 
to be but a part of the au- 
thor's predictions, is of a 
sententious, and. sometimes 
obscure style, but always 
energetic. 

HOSPITALITY, love or 
kindness expressed by en- 
tertaining persons kindly. 
Rom. xii. 13. I Tim.iii. 2. 
The first Christians were 
hospitable and kind to all 
strangers, but particularly 
to those of the same faith ; 
and St. Paul makes use of 
Abraham's and Lot's con- 
duct, mentioned Gen. xviii. 
2, 3. xix. 1, 2, &c. as ex- 
amples to encourage and 
persuade them to the exer- 
cise of hospitality. Heb. 
xiii, 2. Hospitality is rec- 



ommended to the faithful, 
to be " used one to another 
without grudging." 1 Pet. 
iv. 9. 

HOUGH, to disable an 
animal by severing the 
great tendon on the back of 
the hind leg. Joshua xi. 
6-9. 

HOUR. (1.) The twenty- 
fourth part of a natural day, 
being the common method 
of measuring time. Ac- 
cording to the New Testa- 
ment, the Jews divided their 
day into twelve equal parts, 
after the manner of the 
Greeks and Ptomans, Matt, 
xx. 3, 5, 6. John xi. 9, 
which of course varied in 
length according to the dif- 
ferent seasons. When the 
sun rose at the time we call 
6 o'clock, their 3d hour a- 
greed with our 9th, their 
Oth with our noon, and their 
9th with our 3 o'clock. 
Their night was divided in 
the same manner. (2.) 
Hour, signifies any fixed sea- 
son or opportunity ; hence 
we read of the hour of temp- 
tation, of judgment, of 
Christ's death or second 
coming, of the power of 
Satan and his agents against 
Christ, &c. Rev. iii. 3, 10. 
Luke xxii. 53. 

HOUSE. (1.) A dwelling 
place ; so the body is called, 
2 Cor. v. 1, the house of tha 
soul. The houses in Cana- 
an and other eastern coun- 



HOU 



110 



HUS 



tries, are built in the form of 
a hollow square. The rooms 
open into the court in the 
centre, where some have 
fountains of water playing. 
The roof is flat ; and when 
the sun is not hot, is a place 
of agreeable retirement. 
Peter had his vision here. 
Acts x. 9. An awning is 
frequently extended over 
the open space in the cen- 
tre, to exclude the sun. 
This was lifted away and 
the low battlement of tiles 
" broken up," by the friends 
of the man sick of the palsy, 
whom they had brought 
across the roofs of the neigh- 
bouring houses, so that they 
could lower him down be- 
fore Christ. Mark ii. 3. 
Luke v. 19. When the de- 
struction of Jerusalem came, 
the disciples of Jesus were to 
escape from the roofs, if the}^ 
should be there, without 
going down into the house. 
This in American houses 
would be impossible ; but 
there they would come down 
Vae stairs, and pass through 
the balconies which led 
round inside the rooms, and 
so out into the street, through 
the covered gateway. Mark 
xiii. 15. (2.) The family 
household, or tribe, dwell- 
ing together. Children do 
not necessarily form part of 
a household, as many fami- 
lies do not have any. Acts 
xvi. 15. 



HUMILITY, that grace 
of the Spirit, which, from a 
proper sense of lowliness 
and un worthiness, makes us 
patient under trials, and 
contentedly submissive to 
the will of Providence, 

HUMILIATION, the act 
of humbling one's self. It 
differs from humility. Hu- 
mility is the state of that 
person's mind who has low 
thoughts of himself, found- 
ed upon the knowledge of 
his own imperfections and 
unworthiuess, and his de- 
pendence upon God. Hu- 
miliation is a solemn act of 
devotional mortification, or 
external expression of con- 
scious guilt and unworthi- 
uess, in an individual or a 
nation, shewn by fasting, 
prayer, &c. 

HUSK, the sheath or cov- 
er of grain, &c. Numb. vi. 
4. 2 Kings iv. 42. It is 
thought by Wahl. and oth- 
ers, that the husks mention- 
ed in the parable of the 
prodigal son, are the pods of 
the Carob tree, or Ceratonia 
siliqua of Linnceus. These 
pods are long, somewhat 
sickle-shaped, and contain 
a very sweet pulp, and sev- 
eral brown seeds like beans. 
When in season, swine 
fatten on this food very 
rapidly, and it is often eat- 
en by the poor people in 
Syria and Palestine. Luke 
xv. 16. 



HYS 



111 



HYS 



HYMN, a religious ode or 
song. Hilary is said to be 
the first composer of metri- 
cal hy nans to be sang in pub- 
lic worship. The book 
of Psalms contained the 
" hymns and spiritual songs 
commonly sung by the Jews 
and early Christians. The 
Psalms are called in general 
hymns by Philo the Jew ; 
and Josephus calls them 
"songs and hymns." — See 
Singing. 

HYPOCRITE. (1.) One 
who dissembles, or feigns to 
be what he is not. Matt. 
xxiii. Such persons may be 
detected by their neglect of 
the duties they enjoin on 
others ; by their zeal for 
trifles and omission of great 
duties; by their love of ti- 
tles and precedence ; and by 
their severe censures of oth- 
ers for sins, they commit 
themselves. (2.) One who 
is deceived, and relies on a 
false hope. Job xx. 5, and 
xxvii. 8. Such persons find 
excuses for obvious neglects ; 
they study an external rath- 
er than inward purity ; they 
pray in afHiction with great 
fervour, but are apt to neg- 
lect that duty in prosperity ; 
and though keen and active 
in business, are dull and 
destitute of zeal in spiritual 
affairs. 

HYSSOP. An herb, which 
grows not only in gardens at 
the east, but wild. It rises 



to the height of two feet, 
growing in bunches and put- 
ting out many stalks from a 
single root. On this account 
it is extremely well adapted 
to be used as a sprinkler, as 
it commonly was in Jewish 
purifications. It has a 
pleasant smell, but is very 
bitter and pungent. When 
it is said that u Solomon 
described plants from the 
greatest cedar to the hyssop 
that springeth out of the 
wall," 1 Kings iv. 23, the 
smallest of plants seems to 
be intended. 

Hasselqjjist supposes 
the plant here mentioned to 
be a species of moss which 
grows on stone walls, and is 
very common on the wails 
of Jerusalem. Professor 
Siethohpe, who also visited 
that part of Asia, thinks it 
more probably a little plant 
still called hysoppo, frequent- 
ly growing on the rocks of 
Palestine. But Isaac Bet* 
Omran, an Arabian author, 
says that the hyssop grows 
in abundance on the moun- 
tains about Jerusalem. The 
wall therefore may mean 
cliffs, or the passage may bo 
rendered, around the walls. 
The soldier who gave our 
Saviour vinegar, or sour 
wine with a sponge, seems 
to have added the juice of 
hyssop, John xix. 29 : or 
gall, as it is called, Matt. 
xxvii. 34. 



1DD 



112 



1D0 



I. 

1 CO'NIUM, the chief city 
of the tetrarchy of Lycao- 
nia; said by Strabo to be 
well built, and situated in 
the richest part of the prov- 
ince. The visit of Paul to 
this place, which was great- 
ly blessed in the conversion 
of multitudes, happened A. 
D. 45 or 46. Acts xiv. 1 — 
3. The church thus plant- 
ed, may be traced through 
eight succeeding centuries ; 
but is lost sight of during 
the ravages of the Turks 
and Saracens. At present, 
it is a place of some conse- 
quence, and strongly forti- 
fied by walls four miles in 
extent. The population is 
estimated at 70 or 80 thou- 
sand. Though much of the 
town within the walls lies 
waste, no Jew or Christian 
is allowed by the Turks to 
live on the inside ; but such 
reside in the suburbs. Its 
present name is Cogni, or 
Konee. 

1DDO, a prophet of Ju- 
dah, who seems to have been 
the historian of his day, 
and whose record and gen- 
ealogies are mentioned in 
Scripture. 2 Chron. ix. 29, 
and xii. 15. His writings 
never made a part of the 
canon of the Old Testament. 
Indeed, had every thing 
doue or said by holy men, 



according to the will of God, 
been inserted in the Bible, 
it would have made the 
book too large to be useful. 
Josephus is of opinion that 
this was the prophet sent to 
Jeroboam at Bethel, and 
slain by a lion on his return. 
1 Kings xiii. Whether he 
was the grandfather of Zech- 
ariah, is uncertain. Zech. 
i, 1. There were several 
other persons of this name. 
1 Chron. xxvii. 21. Ezra 
viii. 17. 

IDOL, signifies a repre- 
sentation, or image of any 
sort, created either by art or 
fancy. Any object receiv- 
ing human worship, in con- 
tra-distinction to the true 
God, is an idol. 1 Cor. viii. 

1. 1 John v. 21. As it is 
the first principle of true 
religion, that there is one 
only living and true God, 
so Jehovah claims divine 
worship as due only to him- 
self; and has prohibited the 
worship of idols, as a crime 
of the first magnitude. Ex. 
xx. 4. The most fervent 
remonstrances against pay- 
ing homage to idols, are 
found in the prophets ; and 
some such passages in 
Isaiah, are considered to 
surpass in energy, argu- 
ment, and elegance, any- 
thing that has been writ- 
ten on the subject. Isaiah 
xliv. 12—20, and xlvi. 1, 

2, &c. 



IDO 



113 



IDO 



The following idols are 
mentioned in Scripture : 

Adram-melech, 2 Kings xvii. 31. 
Anamelech, 2 Kings xvii. 31. 
Ashtaroth, Judges ii. 13. 
Baa], Numb. xxii. 41. (in the plu- 
ral Baalim, 1 Sam. vii. 4.) 
Baal-berith, Jud. viii. 33. 
Baal-peor, Num. xxv. 3. Deut.iv.3. 
Beelzebub, 2 Kings i. 2. 
Bel, Isa. xlvi. 1. Jer. 1.2. 
Castor and Pollux, Acts xxviii. 11. 
Dagon, Judges xvi. 23. 
Diana, Acts xix. 24. 
Jupiter, Acts xiv. 12. 
Mercury, Acts xiv. 12. 
Moloch, Ley. xviii. 21. 
Nebo, Isaiah xv. 46. 
Nergal, 2 Kings xvii. 30. 
Nisroch, 2 Kings xix. 37. 
Remphan, Acts vii. 43. 
Bimmon, 2 Kings v. 18. 
Sheshach, Jer. Ii. 41. 
Succoth-benoth, 2 Kings xvii. 30. 
Tammuz, Ezek. viii. 14. 
Tartack, 2 Kings xvii. 31. 
Beside which were the Teraphim, 
and the Golden Calves. 

The Jews seem never to 
have had idols peculiar to 
themselves, but to have 
adopted those of other na- 
tions. 

IDOLATRY is either in- 
ternal or external. Internal 
is an inordinate love of the 
creatures, riches, honours, 
and the pleasures of this 
life. Eph. v. 5. Col. iii. 5. 
Phil. iii. 19. External is 
the paying homage to out- 
ward objects, either natural 
or artificial — and this is the 
common sense of the term. 

Soon after the flood, men 

fell into idolatry. A large 

portion of our race have 

ever practised this sin — I 

K 



dreadfully indicative of the 
corruption and degradation 
of human nature Not only 
have the heavenly bodies, 
and eminent benefactors of 
mankind been worshipped, 
but animals, plants, reptiles 
and figures made by human 
hands. To these were paid 
not only reverence and de- 
votion, but the most horrid 
rites. The most gross in- 
decencies, the murder of 
children, suicide, torture, 
drunkenness, and every a- 
bomination have been con- 
sidered proper acts of wor- 
ship. In some countries, 
idolatry still retains these 
shocking characteristics. 

The veneration which 
Roman Catholics pay to the 
Virgin Mary, angels, and 
saints ; and also to crosses, 
images, relics, and the host 
(or bread) of the Lord's sup- 
per, is idolatry. This they 
of course deny, and consider 
the worship paid to God as 
supreme, and that which is 
paid to saints, &c. as subor- 
dinate. 

When we consider in how 
many ways we may practise 
inward idolatry, Phil. iii. 
19. Col. iii. 5, we should 
carefully watch and pray 
against this dreadful sin. It 
is to be feared that great 
multitudes have their hearts 
set on some earthly object, 
who little think themselves 
idolators. 



IMA 



114 



INC 



lDUME'A, a district on 
the south margin of Pales- 
tine, embracing a part of 
Arabia. During the Baby- 
lonish captivity, the Edom- 
ites seem to have seized on 
a considerable portion of Ju- 
dea. Long before the birth 
of Christ, they had been re- 
duced to subjection, and 
multitudes of them embrac- 
ed the Hebrew faith. The 
tract, however, seems to 
have retained their name in 
the days of Christ, and for 
some ages afterwards. Mark 
iii.18. 

ILLYR'ICUM is about 
four hundred and eighty 
miles in length, and 120 in 
breadth. It has Austria and 
part of Hungary on the 
north, Servia on the east, 
and the Adriatic sea and 
part of Macedonia, on the 
south. Here the gospel was 
preached and a Christian 
church planted by Paul, 
which can be traced through 
eight centuries ; and to this 
day not a few nominal 
Christians reside here. 
Rom. xv. 19. It is now call- 
ed Sclavonia, or Albania. 

IMAGE. A similitude, 
likeness, copy, or resem- 
blance. Jesus Christis said 
to be the " image of God," 
Heb. i. 3, as he represents 
God to us ; is " in the form 
of God," essentially and not 
circumstantially ; for there 
can be no form or " express 



image" of God, but what 
is essentially divine. The 
phrase seems to imply same- 
ness in nature and distinct- 
ness in person. Man is said 
to have been made in the 
image of God, Gen. i. 26, 
27, because he resembled 
God in being wise, holy and 
immortal, and in possessing 
dominion over the creatures. 
Idols, carved into shapes 
supposed to resemble various 
deities are called images, 2 
Kings iii. 2. Acts xix. 35. 
IMPUTE, to put any 
thing to a person's account. 
The righteousness of Christ 
is imputed to them that be- 
lieve on him, and their sins 
are imputed to him. Rx>m. 
iv. 6—8. 2 Cor. v. 19. 

INCENSE, a fragrant 
gum, brought from Arabia 
and the East Indies. The 
form of the tree is not pre- 
cisely known. The incense 
used in the Jewish offer- 
ings, at least that which was 
burnt on the altar of in- 
cense, and before the ark, 
was a precious mixture of 
sweet spices, stacte, onycha, 
galbanum, and pure frank- 
incense, beaten very small, 
Ex. xxx. 7, 34. None but 
priests were to burn it, nor 
was any, under pain of 
death, to make any like to 
it. This incense was burnt 
twice a-day on the golden 
altar. "Where so many vic- 
tims were daily slaughtered 



IRO 



115 



ISR 



and burnt to ashes, some 
such perfume was exceed- 
ingly necessary. It seemed 
also beautifully emblematic 
of prayer. Ps. cxli. 2. Rev. 
viii. 3, 4. 

INK HORN, a small port- 
able case for pens and ink ; 
which is often worn by wri- 
ters in the east, fastened to 
some convenient part of the 
dress. Ezek. ix. 2, 11. 

INSCRIPTION, or Su- 
perscription, writing on 
coins, pillars, &c. Much of 
the history of nations may 
be learnt from them. Matt, 
xxii. 20. The history of 
Greece for 1318 years, is in- 
scribed on the x^rundelian 
marbles. Parts of the law 
of Moses were inscribed on 
the altar at Ebal. Deut. 
xxvii. 8. 

INTERCESSION, the 
act of coming in between 
two parties, in order to 
plead in behalf of the one 
that has offended. Christ 
intercedes for his church, 
by appearing for it before 
the Father, by presenting 
the merits of his sacrifices 
once offered, and obtaining 
answers to petitions or pray- 
ers made in his name. 

IRON was known very 
anciently. Gen. iv. 22. Mo- 
ses speaks of its hardness. 
Lev. xxvi. 19 ; of the iron 
mines, Deut. viii. 9 ; of the 
furnace in which it was 
made, Deut. iv. 20 j and 



that the bedstead of Og, 
king of Bashan, was of iron, 
Deut. iii. 11. 

ISAIAH, a prophet of 
Israel, who wrote the in- 
spired book of that name. 
His language is remarkable 
for elegance and sublimity \ 
and his wondrous prophe- 
cies are yet being expound- 
ed by evenls. He seems to 
have been favoured with an 
entire view of the gospel 
state, from the birth and 
sufferings of Christ, to the 
day when all shall know 
God. He is thought to have 
died about 70 years before 
Jeremiah prophesied. 

ISRAEL, the common 
name of the Hebrew people 
and country. Under Reho- 
boam, successor to Solomon, 
a fatal schism took place be- 
tween the tribes of Judah 
and Benjamin, and the rest 
of the tribes. 1 Kings xii. 
The land was then divided 
into Judah, of which Jerusa- 
lem continued the metropo- 
lis ; and Israel, of which 
Samaria was the royal resi- 
dence. This division occa- 
sioned many dreadful civil 
Wars, and wholly separated 
the ten tribes from the true 
religion. At length after 
having existed about 250 
years, Israel was entirely- 
destroyed. 1 Kings xvii. 
6, &c. ; and the whole coun- 
try was then called Judah, 
or Judaea. About 130 years 



ITU 



116 



JAC 



after the overthrow of the 
ten tribes, Judah was laid 
waste by Nebuchadnezzar, 
and the people carried cap- 
tive to Babylon, where they 
continued 70 years. 2 Kings 
xxv. 9. Jer. xxxix. 2, and 
xxiv. 11,12. Under Darius 
and Cyrus many of the Jews 
returned, and the temple 
was rebuilt a little more 
than 500 years before the 
birth of Christ. The coun- 
try continued tributary to 
Persia till taken by Alexan 
der, at whose death it be 
came annexed to Syria. Af 
terwards it was sometimes 
independent and sometimes 
subject to Egypt, till it be- 
came a part of the Roman 
Empire, and was governed 
by kings appointed from 
thence. See Canaan. 

ISSUE, an effector result 
arising from some cause. It 
is applied to children, who 
from the relation which they 
bear to their parents, are 
called issue or offspring; 
and to a running sore in 
the flesh, sometimes aris- 
ing from a small artificial 
incision. 

ITURE'A, a region in 
the north-east part of Pales- 
tine, thought to have derived 
its name from Jetur, a son 
of Ishmael. Hauren was 
one of its cities, whence the 
province was called Hauran- 
itis by the ancients. Philip 
was its tetrarch in the days 



of Christ. Lukeiii.l. The 
modern name is Houran. 

IVORY, is the tusks of 
elephants resembling horns, 
Ezk. xxvii. 15. Some tusks 
are from 90 to 125 pounds 
weight ; and one found in 
the isle of Sumatra in the 
East Indies is said to^ have 
been 330 pounds. " The 
ivory of Ceylon is best, and 
does not become yellow by 
age. In Russia, and other 
places of Europe, a kind of 
ivory is found buried in the 
ground ; and at Petersburgh 
is a tusk of ISO pounds 
weight. But whether these 
be real teeth of elephants, 
long ago there dropt, or 
horns of fishes, brought 
thither at the flood, or the 
remains of some hu^e ani- 
mal, whose race is now ex- 
tinct, or a kind of substance 
formed in the earth, we can- 
not determine. Ivory was 
anciently very plentiful in 
Canaan ; wardrobes were 
boxed with it to prevent the 
damage of moths. Ps. xlv. 8. 
Solomon had a throne of it. 
1 Kings x. 18, 22. 



J. 

JACINTH, the same as 
hyacinth ; a precious stone 
ofayellowish colour.brought 
generally from Ceylon. 



JAM 



117 



JER 



JAMES the Great, or El- 
der, and John the evangel- 
ist, sons of Zebedee and 
Salome, were originally fish- 
ers of Bethsaida in Galilee. 
Matt. iv. 21. They were 
called Boanerges, or u the 
sons of thunder. " Mark iii. 
17. Llike ix. 54. After our 
Saviour's resurrection, it 
seems they for a while re- 
turned to their business of 
fishing. John xxi. 2, 3. 
About A. D. 44, James was 
murdered by Herod. Acts 
xii. 2. He is now the pre- 
tended patron of Spain. 

2. James the Less, call- 
ed the brother of our Lord, 
was the son of Cieophas, by 
Mary, the sister of the bless- 
ed Virgin. He was called 
the less, probably, because 
smaller or younger than the 
former. For the admirable 
holiness of his life, he was 
surnamed the Just. Our Sav- 
iour appeared to him by him- 
self, after his resurrection. 
1 Cor. xv. 7. About three 
years after Paul's conver- 
sion, he was at Jerusalem, 
and considered as a pillar 
or noted supporter of the 
church there. Gal. i. 19. 

The general Epistle of 
James was written by this 
apostle. It is called general, 
because not addressed to 
any particular church. It 
is one of the most pathetic 
and instructive in the New 
Testament ; and contains an 



admirable summary of those 
practical duties which are 
incumbent on all believers. 

JANNES and JAMBRES, 
the leading magicians of the 
company who counterfeited 
the miracles of Moses be- 
fore Pharaoh. 2 Tim. iii. 8. 

JASH'ER. The book of 
Jasher was probably a pub- 
lic register in which memo- 
rable events were written 
by a Scribe of this name. 
That it was the practice of 
the Jews to keep such a 
register, appears from va- 
rious passages. Josh. x. 
13. 2 Chronicles xii. 15, 
and xx. 34, &c. These 
archives were laid up in the 
temple, and Josephus some- 
times refers to them for the 
truth of his narrative. 

JASPER, a precious 
stone of various colours, 
white, red, brown, and 
bluish green. It is some- 
what like the finer marble, 
or the half transparent gem3. 
it strikes fire with steel ; 
but makes no effervescence 
in aquafortis. It is found 
in the Indies, in Persia, Syr- 
ia, Armenia, Bohemia, &c. 

JEPHTHAH, the tenth 
judge of Israel ; who in con- 
sequence of an extraordi- 
nary vow, sacrificed his 
daughter. Jud. xi. In his 
day, Troy was burnt by the 
Greeks, about 2600 years 
after the creation. 

JEREMIAH, a prophet 



JER 



118 



JER 



Who wrote the book which a mere mud-built village 



bears his name ; he prophe- 
sied 70 years after Isaiah, 
and during part of the reign 
Of Josiah. The last chapter 
seems to have been added 
by Ezra. He is called Jere- 
my, in the New Testament. 
JERICHO, a city of the 
Benjamites, nineteen miles 
east from Jerusalem. Josh. 
xyi. 1, 7. The curse pro- 
nounced (Josh. vi. 26,) upon 
the man who should rebuild 
this city, after its destruc- 
tion by Joshua, was literal- 
ly fulfilled in the days of 
Ahab, upon Hiel. 1 Kings 
xvi. 34. After its restora- 
tion it flourished, and be- 
came second in importance 
(inly to Jerusalem. There 
seems to have been, how- 
etver, during this interval, 
another Jericho, where Da 
vid's insulted ambassadors 
remained till their beards 
were grown. The road to 
Jericho was through a rocky 
desert, infested with rob- 
bers. Luke x. 30. It is to 
this day, the most danger- 
ous road in Palestine. Sir 
F. Henniker, an English 
traveller, was in this very 
place robbed, and wounded 
by a party of Arabs, in 1820. 
The plain on which it stood 
was extremely fertile, noted 
for palm-trees, and for the 
best of balm. The general 
depression of the country 
has sunk noble Jericho into 



its present name is Erika y 
or Rika. 

JERUSALEM stood 42 
miles east of the Mediterra- 
nean. The name signifies 
the Vision of Peace. It was 
the capital city of Judea, and 
was first called Salem, where 
Melchisedek was king. 
Gen. xiv. 18, and who, as 
some suppose, built it. It 
was called Jehus by the Je- 
busites, who possessed it and 
held the castle of Sion, till 
David dislodged them, and 
took the place. 1 Chron. xi. 
4. 5, 7. 

Every male Jew was com- 
manded to go to Jerusalem 
thrice a year to worship. It 
was a city often plundered by 
armies, and several times 
burnt. 1 Kings xiv. 16. 
After Nebuchadnezzar des- 
troyed it, 2 Chron. xxxvi. it 
laid in ruins 130 years, when 
it was rebuilt by Nehemiah. 
Many years afterward it was 
again destroyed by Ptolemy; 
afterward, it suffered a sim- 
ilar fate from Antiochus 
Epiphanes, who killed 40,000 
of the inhabitants, and sold 
for slaves as many more. It 
was rebuilt by Judas Mac- 
cabeus, and was somewhat 
flourishing in the time of our 
Saviour. About A. D. 70, 
after a dreadful siege of two 
years, during which the in- 
habitants suffered so much 
from famine, as to eat, in 



JES 



119 



JEW 



some instances, the corpses 
of their friends, it was taken 
by Titus Vespasian ; and 
our Saviour's prediction that 
it should become a heap of 
ruins, was fully verified. It 
gradually became settled by 
Christians again, when in 
the year 614, the Persians 
captured it, and 90,000 
Christians were slain. In A. 
D. 637, the Saracens seized 
it. and kept ittill A. D. 1079, 
when the Seljukian Turks 
became its masters. Soon 
afterwards the Crusades 
were begun and continued 
from time to time, for a cen- 
tury, when the Ottoman 
Turks became its possessors, 
and they remain so to this 
day. On the site of the 
temple is a mosque. Its 
present population is com- 
puted at 20,000 ; one fourth 
of which are Jews ; but there 
has been no regular census 
for many ages. The Greek 
Christians are estimated by 
Messrs. Fisk and King at 
2,000, and the Roman Cath- 
olics at 1500. There are al- 
so Armenian, Coptic, Syrian 
and Abyssinian Christians, 
residing here. Christian 
Missionaries from the United 
States have of late years 
made known on this sacred 
spot, the glorious grace of 
our Lord Jesus Christ. 

JESUS, the name given 
to Messiah, by his parents, 
at the command of the an- 



gel, Matt. i. 21 ; the word 
means Saviour. His divini- 
ty appears from the titles of 
Deity being applied to him, 
Rom. ix. 5. Rev. i. 1 1 ; from 
the unqualified attributes to 
him of the attributes of Dei- 
ty, as eternity, Rev. xxii. 
13; Omniscience, Rev. ii. 
23. Omnipotence, PhiL 
iii. 21. Omnipresence, Mat. 
xviii. 20. He is declared to 
be the Creator John i. 12; ths 
preserver, Col. i. 16,17;— 
to have the power of forgiv- 
ing sins, Mat. ix. 2 — 6. Col. 
iii. 13, &c. ; to have power 
to raise the dead, 1 John v. 
22; — to be the judge of quick 
and dead, 2 Cor. v. 10. Rom. 
xiv. 10. 

He was often worshipped, 
and did not forbid it; and 
such worship is declared 
proper, Phil. ii. 10, 11 ; Heb. 
i. 6. See also Ex. xvii. 7. 
Numb. xxi. 5, 6. Ps. lxxviii. 
56. John xx. 28. Luke xxiv. 
51. Mark iv, 39. CoL ii. 
10, &c. 

JEW, a descendant of Ja- 
cob, or professor of the He- 
brew faith. Col. iii. 11. The 
Jews have now no country 
of their own, but are found 
in most parts of the earth, 
though every where a de- 
graded people, and oppress- 
ed either by custom or law. 
It is computed that therr 
number now amounts to 3 
or 4 millions. About one 
million are in the Turkish 



JOB 



120 



JOH 



empire. In Europe they are 
numerous, especially in Po- 
land, where there are 
500,000, viz. Gallicia, 90,000 
—-Prussian Poland, .110,000 
—Russian Poland, 300,000. 
The Russian Polish Jews 
reside chiefly in the follow- 
ing places ; Wilna, Kanen, 
Grodno, Pinck, Mohilow, 
and Bizesk, where there is a 
famous Jewish University. 
The Austrian Polish Jews 
reside in Leonburg, Brody, 
Lublin, Cracow,and Tarnow. 
The Prussian Polish Jews 
reside chiefly in Warsaw, 
Thorn, Paren, Lissa, Kalish, 
Rawitz, Petrikan, and Ri- 
elsh. 

As to the rest of Europe, 
there are in Hungary, chief- 
ly at Bresburgh, Newratz, 
and Miskolz, 76,000 : in Ger- 
many, chiefly at Frankfort 
on the Main, Prague, Furth 
and Berlin, 200,000; in Hol- 
land 20,000; in England 
14,000; in France 50,000. 

They are also numerous 
in the Barbary States, and 
the Levant. In the United 
States there are not more 
than 2 or 3 thousand. Most 
Jews are traders and bro- 
kers ; few if any choose to 
cultivate the soil. The an- 
cient distinction of tribes 
seems now wholly lost. 

JOB, an eminent patriarch, 
whose history and character 
form an exceedingly instruc- 
tive part of the Old Testa- 



ment. He is thought to have 
lived before the departure of 
Israel out of Egypt. His 
country was what is now 
called Iduraea. The book 
so called, was probably writ- 
ten by Job himself, and was 
copied and circulated by Mo- 
ses under divine inspiration. 
It is agreed on all hands, to 
be the most ancient book 
extant. 

JOEL, a Hebrew prophet, 
of whose history nothing is 
now certainly known. Most 
modern commentators be- 
lieve him to have been co- 
temporary with Amos and 
Hosea. The book is of a 
highly poetical style, and is 
greatly admired by critics 
for its elegance and sublim- 
ity. 

JOHN, brother of James, 
was of a very mild and af- 
fectionate disposition, but 
bold in preaching. See 
James. John was the Sav- 
iour's beloved disciple, and 
younger than the rest. After 
suffering many sorrows for 
his religion, under the Em- 
peror Domitian, he was ban- 
ished A. D. 95, to Patmos, 
where he wrote the Revela- 
tion. When Nerva became 
Emperor, he was recalled, 
and. lived to write his Gospel, 
and three Epistles. He died 
at Ephesus, at about the age 
of one hundred. Before his 
death, the various heresies of 
the Ebionites, Cerinthians, 



JOR 



121 



JOR 



Docetae, Gnostics, Nicolai- 
tans, &c. had been broach- 
ed. These, and other er- 
rors, are fully exposed in his 
gospel and epistles, though 
they are not all mentioned 
by name. 

JONAH lived earlier than 
any of the minor prophets, 
probably as early as the reign 
of Jehu. From his history 
the Greeks seem to have de- 
rived their story of Hercules 
having been three days with- 
out injury in the belly of a 
dog, sent against him by 
Neptune. The fable of Arion 
and the Dolphin has proba- 
bly &o same origin. 

JOPPA, a seaport of Pal- 
estine of very ancient date. 
Its name is thought to have 
been derived from Japket, 
son of Noah, who founded it. 
It is now nothing more than a 
ruinous village of fishermen, 
called by the natives Jaffa. 

JORDAN, a river which 
rises in Mount Lebanon, 
about 12 miles north of Ces- 
area-Philippi. About twelve 
miles more to the south, it re- 
ceives a considerable branch, 
which, under ground, pro- 
ceeds from the lake Phiala. 
About 15 miles further south, 
it forms the waters of Merom, 
or lake of Samechon, both 
names signifying the higher 
lake, which is nearly 4 miles 
broad, and seven and a half 
long. About 28 miles far- 
ther south, it forms the lake 



of Gennesareth, which is 16 
miles in length, and five in 
breadth. Thence it runs 
southward through a long 
valley, whose air is unwhole- 
some, and most of it desert, 
till it loses itself in the Dead 
Sea. Its whole course is 
about 160 miles. It over- 
flowed its banks in March or 
April,, by means of the melt- 
ing of the snow on Lebanon 
and Hermon. Before it en- 
ters the Dead Sea, its ordinary 
current is but 30 yards in 
breadth, according to Shaw, 
and no more than 25, accord- 
ing to Thomson. The or- 
dinary depth is about 12 feet ; 
but this was greatly increased 
at certain seasons. The cur- 
rent is very rapid. It has an 
outer bank, about a furlong 
distant from the other ; such 
it seems was its width when 
it was swelled. The banks 
of a great part of it are cov- 
ered with thickets, in which 
lions were wont to lodge. 
When driven thence, by the 
overflowing of the river, they 
wandered about, and were 
dangerous to such as dwelt 
near. Jer. xlix. 19. Almost 
all other streams in Palestine 
but this, become dry in the 
midst of summer. Its waters 
are remarked for bein£ pe- 
culiarly sweet and whole- 
some. There were fordable 
places during the dry season, 
Judges iii. 28 ; and ferrys in 
several places. 2 Samuel 



JOS 



122 



JUD 



xix. 18. The deep stream 
of Jordan was divided under 
Joshua, and by Elijah and 
Elisha. In it John baptized 
multitudes, and our Saviour 
among them. Joshua iii. 2 
Kings ii. Matt. iii. Mark i. 
JOSHUA, the successor to 
Moses, as leader of Israel. 
He was born A. M. 2460, and 
died about 17 years after Mo- 
ses. Seven years of his gov- 
ernment he was engaged in 
the conquest of Canaan, and 
during the remainder, he en- 
joyed it in peaceful possess- 
ion. He was the writer of 
the first of the historical books 
of the Old Testament as they 
are called, which include all 
the succeeding books as far as 
Esther. Though the wri- 
tings of Moses, (called the 
Pentateuch, because in five 
books,) are in a large degree 
historical, yet because they 
contain the law which God 
gave on Sinai, they are to- 
gether called the law. John 
i. 17. The Pagan fable of 
Phaeton, driving the chariot 
of the sun for one day, is 
thought to have arisen from 
it* standing still, at the word 
of Joshua. His expulsion of 
the Canaanites, is abundant- 
ly corroborated by profane 
history. Among the many ev- 
idences from hence, we may 
mention the pillar which 
Procopius saw in the time of 
Justinian, near to where 
Tangier now stands, on which 



were inscriptions to this ef- 
fect, — "We are fugitives 
from the face of josh- 
ua, the robber, the son 
of Nun." 

The book of Joshua com- 
prises the history of about 
twenty years, and forms a 
continuation and completion 
to the Pentateuch. It de- 
scribes the conquest of Cana- 
an ; its partition among the 
tribes ; and the death and 
burial of Joshua. The latter 
passages were written by 
Phinchas, or some subse- 
quent prophet, Joshua xxiv. 
29—33. 

JOT, a point ; the least 
assignable quantity. The 
allusion is to the Hebrew 
letter Jod, which is scarcely 
more than a point. Mat. v. 18. 

JOTHAM, a king ofJu- 
dah, successor to ^Uzziah. 
He reigned 16 years, during 
the latter part of which Rome 
was founded. 

JOURNEY, a passage 
from place to place. A " Sab- 
bath day's journey," was 
about a mile ; a common 
day's journey was about 
twenty miles. 

JOY, an agreeable affec- 
tion of the soul, arising from 
the hope or possession of 
some benefit. Religious joy 
is the delight and satisfaction 
of the soul in its union with 
God in Christ, as the great- 
est and highest good. 

JUDAS, called Iscariot, 



JUD 



123 



JUD 



probably from Ish-cariotta, 
the man who has the bag. 
There is no reason to sup- 
pose his appearance of piety 
was ever to human eye less 
than that of the other disci- 
ples. After his dreadful a- 
postasy, he hung himself in 
despair ; but the cord or the 
limb of the tree breaking, he 
fell, burst open, and died a 
miserable death. 

JUDAS or JUDE, the 
same as Thaddeus Lebbe- 
us, brother of James the 
less. Matt. x. 3. He was one 
of the twelve Apostles. He 
wrote an Epistle, which 
bears his name, and is in- 
tended chiefly to guard be- 
lievers against false teachers. 
JUDEA, or Jewry, a 
name now applied to the 
whole of Canaan, which was 
never so called till after the 
captivity. Sometimes the 
whole land of Canaan seems 
in the New Testament to 
have been called Judea, Gal. 
i. 22 ; but more properly it 
was divided into Galilee, 
Samaria, and Judea. Judea, 
thus taken, contained the 
original portions of the tribes 
of Judah, Benjamin, Dan, 
and Simeon. It consisted of 
three parts ; the plain coun- 
try on the west; the hill- 
country southward of Jerusa- 
lem ; and the south, toward 
the borders of the land of 
Edom. Matt, iii.l. Acts ii. 
9. ' See Canaan. 



JUDGES. 1. Officers of 
law and justice. The Jews 
had three courts ; (1.) a court 
of three or seven petty judg- 
es, who decided small cases ; 
(2.) a court of 23, whose 
power in some cases extend- 
ed to life and death ; (3.) the 
great Sanhedrim, which de- 
termined all the highest cases 
and was the last appeal. It 
consisted of 70 judges, of 
which the High Priest was 
president. Each court had 
cognizance of both civil and 
ecclesiastical cases. 

2. Extraordinary men, 
raised up by Jehovah, to de- 
liver Israel from oppression, 
before they had a king. 
When the nation sinned, it 
was punished by anarchy, 
invasion, or conquest ; but 
when it had been duly hum- 
bled, a deliverer was found. 

The following is a list of 
the Judges in their order ; 
with the length of their ad- 
ministration ; and the times 
of the intervening oppres- 
sion . 





years 


Othniel, judged Israel, 


40 


served Moab, 


13 


Ehud, - _ - 


80 


served Philistia, 


1 


Shamgar, - 


1 


served Canaan, 


20 


Deborah and Barak, 


40 


served Jtfidian, 


7 


Gideon, - 


40 


Abimeleeh, 


3 


Tola, - 


23 


Jair, - 


22 


served Amnion, 


13 


Jephthah, - 


6 



JUD 



124 



JUN 







years 


Ibzan, 


- 


7 


Elon, 


. 


10 


Abdon, 


_ 


8 


served Pkilistia, 


}_ 


40 


Samson last 10, 


Eli, - 




40 


served Philistia, 


- 


20 


/Samuel, * 


. 


12 



456 

The Apostle Paul says, — 
that the period during which 
Israel was governed by judg- 
es, was '* about 450 years." 
Acts xiii. 20. 

The book of Judges forms 
an important part in the his- 
tory of Israel ; and indepen- 
dently of the ample proofs of 
its authenticity found in its 
style, and in its being quoted 
by both old and New Testa- 
ment writers, the transactions 
it records are confirmed by 
traditions current among the 
heathen. Thus we find the 
memorial of Gideon's trans- 
actions preserved by Sancho- 
niatho. The Vulpinaria, or 
feast of the foxes, celebrated 
by the Romans in the month 
of April, (the time of the 
Jewish harvest) in which 
they let loose foxes, to whose 
tails were fastened burning 
torches, was derived from the 
story of Samson, which was 
conveyed to Italy by the 
Phoenicians. In the history 
of Samson and Delilah, we 
find the original of Nisus and 
his daughters, who cut off 
those fatal hairs upon which 



victory depended. Dr. A. 
Clarke has fully shown that 
Samson is the original and 
essential Hercules of Pagan 
Mythology. 

JUDGMENT, that facul- 
ty of the soul, by which it 
perceives the relation be- 
tween two or more ideas, and 
discerns right from wrong; 
— the solemn action and trial 
at the great and last day, 
Eccles. xii. 14. Judge 6 ; — 
the sentence or decision of a 
judge, 1 Kings iii. 28 ; — the 
remarkable punishments of 
God, Prov. xix. 29 ;— afflic- 
tions and chastisements for 
trial and profitable instruc- 
tions, 1 Pet. iv. 17 ; — senti- 
ment or opinion, 1 Cor. i. 10 ; 
— advice, 1 Cor. vii. 25; — 
the gospel or kingdom of 
grace, Matt. xii. 20 ; — the 
skill, knowledge, or under- 
standing which a person has 
attained in any art, science, 
or business. A court of jus- 
tice existing among the Jews 
in the time of our Saviour 
which seems to have consist- 
ed of 23 persons, and to have 
had cognisance of petty 
causes only, Matt. v. 22. 

JUNIPER, an evergreen, 
not unlike the cedar, and 
sometimes called by that 
name. Whether this was 
the exact tree meant by the 
Hebrew word Rothem, 
is very uncertain. It oc- 
curs only 1 Kings xix. 4, 5. 
Job xxx. 4, and Ps. cxx. 4. 



JUS 



125 



KIN 



JUPITER, the principal 
deity of ancient heathens. 
Perhaps the name is deriv- 
ed from Ja, or Jehovah, and 
pater, father. There were 
many Jupiters. Three were 
principally famous — the son 
of iEther, the son ofCcelus, 
but chiefly, the son of Sat- 
urn. Historians discover 
that he was son to a king of 
Crete, who lived about the 
time of Moses, and was one 
of the most wicked wretch- 
es that ever breathed. The 
Heathens, however, whose 
theology was chiefly deriv- 
ed from the fictions of their 
poets, believed he had the 
government of heaven and 
earth ; and that under him 
Neptune ruled the sea, and 
Pluto was king of hell. The 
noble port of Barnabas, and 
his miracles, made the citi- 
zens of Lystra imagine that 
Jupiter had visited them. 
Acts xiv. 11. 

JUSTIFY, to clear a per- 
son from the charge of guilt ; 
to make his innocence ap- 
pear; to acquit a sinner from 
the guilt or punishment of 
sin, by pardon, through the 
imputation of Christ's right- 
eousness. Rom. iii. 28. and 
v. 9. As justification is by 
righteousness imputed, so 
sanctiiication is by righte- 
ousness imparted to the soul 
of the believer. Man can- 
not be justified legally, Rom. 
iit. 20. Gal. ii. 16, bat evan- 



gelically, Rom. v. 1 ; and 
this is said to be by grace 
freely, Rom. iii. 24. Tit. iii. 
7 ; by faith, Gal. iii. 8; by 
Christ, ii. 16 ; by his blood, 
Romans v. 9. 



KAB. See Cab. 

KA'DESH, Kedesh, or 
Ka'desh-bar'ivea, a place 
on the south of Canaan, a- 
bout twenty-four miles south 
from Hebron, and on the 
edge of the wilderness of 
Paran. Numb. vii. 16. It 
was anciently called En- 
michpat, or Well of Judg- 
ment, because there the Ca- 
naanites had judged their 
people near to a well. Gen. 
xiv. 7. Some authors sup- 
pose it was the same as Rith* 
mah. Numb, xxxiii. IS. 

KEDAR, a son of Ishma- 
el, and father of the Kedar- 
enes, who resided about the 
south parts of Arabia the 
Desert, ordinarily in tents, 
but sometimes in villages, 
and whose glory and wealth 
chiefly consisted in their 
flocks and herds. Song i. 5, 
lsa. xlii. 11, and xxi. 16, 17. 

KEDRON. See Cedrox. 

KING, the sovereign of a 
nation. His power is, in 
some countries, limited by 
law, and a senate or parlia- 
ment, and in others is abso- 



KIN 



126 



KOH 



Kite. The Lord himself was 
Israel's king, until they be- 
came discontented, and Saul 
was given to be their ruler. 

The following is a table of 
the kings of the Hebrews, 
both before and after their 
division into the governments 
of Judah and Israel. 



Saul reigned 


40 years. 


JJavid 


u 


40 " 


Solomon 


« 


40 " 


Jtehoboam 


u 


I « 


Kings of Judah. 


Kehoboam reigned 


17 years. 


Abijam 


U 


3 » 


Asa 


« 


41 " 


Jehoshaphat 


cc 


27 " 


Jehoram 


a 


8 « 


Ahaziah 


a 


1 « 


Athaliah 


a 


6 « 


Jehoash 


« 


40 " 


Amaziah 


u 


29 « 


Uzziah 


it 


52 " 


Jotham 


a 


16 " 


Ahaz 


a 


16 " 


Hezekiah 


« 


29 " 


Manasseh 


u 


55 " 


Amnion 


a 


2 " 


Josiah 


a 


31 « 


Jehoiakitn 


« 


11 u 


Jehoiakin 


a 


3 months 


Zedekiah 


a 


11 years. 


Kings of Israel. 


Jeroboam reigned 


22 years. 


Nadab 


a 


2 » 


liaasha 


a 


24 " 


Elah 


u 


2 " 


Zimri 


a 


7 days. 


Omri 


a 


6 years. 


Ahab 


u 


22 " 


Abaziah 


a 


1 « 


Joram 


u 


12 " 


Jebu 


a 


28 " 


Jehoahaz 


a 


17 " 


Jeboash 


a 


41 " 


Jeroboam II. 


u 


41 « 



Zechariah reigned 6 months. 
Shallum " 1 « 

Menahim " 10 years. 

Pekaiah " 2 " 

Pekah « 20 " 

Hosea carried captive. 



KINGS, the two books 
under this name are thought 
to have been digested into 
their present form by Ezra, 
from records and writings 
by the various kings, scribes, 
and prophets, mentioned in 
them. 

KISHON, a river rising at 
the foot of Mount Tabor, pass- 
ing by the base of Mount 
Carmel, and falls into the sea 
at a place called Caypha. 
On its banks was fought 
the famous battle in which 
10,000 Hebrews under Deb- 
orah and Barak routed the 
vast host of Canaanites under 
Sisera, and freed Israel from 
a grievous oppression of 20 
years. 

KNOP, a tufted tup; a 
knot ; a cluster. 

KOHATH, the second son 
of Levi. His descendants 
were called Koathites. Their 
business was, to carry on 
their shoulders the ark, and 
other sacred utensils of the 
tabernacle ; but they were 
not, under pain of death, al- 
lowed to look at any of these, 
except the brazen laver. Ex. 
vi- 16 — 25. Numbers x. 
21. 



LAO 



127 



LAV 



I*. 



LAMENTATIONS, a 

book of Scripture, written by 
Jeremiah, after the troubles 
which he had foretold had 
overtaken Israel. 

LAMP. The lamps of the 
ancients were of various 
kinds. Those used at wed- 
ding processions, consisted of 
*■ pieces of old linen, squeez- 
ed hard against one another 
in a round figure, and forci- 
bly thrust down into a mould 
of copper." Those who hold 
them, have in the other hand 
a pitcher, with a narrow neck 
and stopper, full of oil, of 
which they pour from time 
to time on the linen. This 
explains Christ's declaration, 
that he will " not quench the 
smoking flax," Matt. xii. 20 ; 
and shows why the foolish 
virgins needed u oil in their 
vessels," Matt. xxv. 4. 

LAODICE'A, a city of 
Phrygia, in Asia Minor, for- 
ty-two miles south of Ephe- 
sus. It was anciently called 
Jupiter's city, and then 
Rhoas ; but Seleucus, or per- 
haps Antiochus, the Syro- 
Grecian king, rebuilt it, and 
ealled it Laodicea, after his 
wife. It was destroyed by 
an earthquake, in the tenth 
year of Nero, but soon rose 
from its ruins. A Christian 
church was early planted in 
this place. It is now utterly 



desolate and uninhabited. 
Extensive ruins, haunted by 
wolves and jackals, are yet 
to be seen, The natives call 
the place Ladiky. An ad- 
jacent village is called Eski- 
hissar, where a few Chris- 
tians were found in 1820. 

LAPWING, the bird so 
called in our translation, is 
undoubtedly the hoopoe, a 
very beautiful bird, but very 
disgusting in its habits. The 
LXX. render it epopah, and 
the Vulgate upupa, both 
which names are expressive 
of its loud note. The word 
occurs only in Lev. xi. 19, 
and Deut. xiv. 8. 

LATTICE, a window 
made of bars crossing each 
other. Jud. v. 28. 

LAVEK, a vessel for 
washing. The laver which 
stood in the enclosure of the 
tabernacle, was made of the 
fine brazen looking-glasses, 
which the Hebrew women 
gave for the service of the 
tabernacle. Solomon had one 
made of vast size, supported 
by 12 brazen oxen, which 
was called the molten sea. 
1. Kings vii. 22 — 26. It was 
nearly fifty feet in circumfer- 
ence, and eight feet deep. It 
held water for the priest's to 
wash their hands and feet 
with, having cocks by which 
the water ran into basons. 
He also made ten of inferior 
size, placed near the entrance 
of the temple, for the wash- 



LEA 



128 



LEB 



ing of the offerings. 2 Chron. 
iv. 6. 

LAW, a rule directing and 
obliging a rational creature 
in moral and religious ac- 
tions ; the whole doctrine of 
the word delivered by God to 
his church, contained in the 
Old and New Testaments ; 
the principles of reason, or 
the law of nature written on 
a man's heart. Rom. ii. 14. 
It is used to signify, the dec- 
alogue or ten commandments, 
Rom. ii. 25, vii. 7; the pre- 
cepts of God in regard to the 
Jewish ceremonial, and the 
doctrine of the gospel. Rom. 
iii. 27. 

LAWYER, one versed in 
the laws. As the Jews had 
no written laws except those 
contained in the Old Testa- 
ment, a lawyer among them 
was a person familiar with 
Scripture, and whose busi- 
ness it was to expound it. 

LAZARUS. (1.) The 
brother "of Martha, who was 
raised from the dead by his 
Lord. John xi. (2.) A 
character described by the 
Saviour, in his parable of the 
rich and poor man. Luke 
xvi. Hence beggars are now 
called in Europe, Lazaroni. 
A receptacle for the sick, is 
called for the same reason, 
a Lazaretto, or Lazar house. 

LEAD was very early 
known, Ex. xv. 10, and was 
used among other purposes 
to write upon. From Jer. 



vi. 29, and Ezek. xxii. 17, 22, 
we perceive it was then used 
in refining metals. It was 
used by the Romans, to 
sheath their vessels, being 
fastened with bronze nails. 

LEASING, falsehoods, 
lies. Ps. iv. 2. v. 6. 

LEAVEN, a piece of 
dough, set apart to ferment 
or rise, and used to make 
bread light. To this are com- 
pared the doctrines of the 
Gospel, Matt. xiii. 33, on ac- 
count of their silent exten- 
sion and powerful effects in 
the world. It is also applied 
to erroneous doctrines and 
vicious practices ; as of the 
Pharisees and Sadducees. 
Matt. xvi. 6, 12. 

LEBANON, a famous 
range of mountains in the 
north of Canaan. At the top 
grew cedars, and at the base 
excellent vines. From 
hence, Solomon's workmen 
" brought great stones, cost- 
ly stones, and hewed stones, 
to lay the foundation of the 
house." 1 Kings v. 14—18. 
\iines of iron and copper 
were worked here. Deut. 
viii. 9. The highest sum- 
mits are always covered 
with snow, from which de- 
scend in summer, sweet and 
refreshing rivulets on every 
side. A spur of this moun- 
tain next the holy land is 
called Hermon. Another 
spur, to the eastward, is 
Mount Gilcad, where Labau 



LEO 



129 



LEV 



overtook Jacob. Genesis 
xxxi. 25. 

LEEK, a plant very simi- 
lar in shape and qualities to 
the onion. The word oc- 
curs in our translation only 
in Numb. xi. 5. The orig- 
inal term chatzir, is in 
most other places rendered 
" grass." Ps. xxxvii. 2, &c. 

LEGION, in the Roman 
army, was a body of soldiers, 
consisting of ten cohorts, or 
six thousand men. It seems, 
however, to have varied in 
the number of men at differ- 
ent periods of time. In the 
case of the demoniac, Mark 
v. 9, the word seems to be 
used for an indefinite mul- 
titude. 

LENTILES, a sort of 
pulse like pease, much es- 
teemed by the ancients. 2 
Sam. xvii. 28. Dr. Shaw 
says that in Egypt beans, 
lentiles, and garvancoes, are 
the chief of the pulse kind, 
and when stewed with oil 
and garlic, are the principal 
food of persons of all ranks. 
Lentiles make a pottage of a 
chocolate colour ; this 



the " red. pottage," for which 
Esau exchanged his birth- 
right, Gen. xxv. 34. 

LEOPARD, a beast of 
prey, equal in size to a large 
dog ; beautifully spotted, 
and exceedingly fierce, cru^ 
el, and rapacious. The happy 
peace which shall distin- 
guish Messiah's kingdom, is 



was dile 



beautifully predicted by the 
figure of the leopard lying 
down with the kid. Isa. xi. 6. 

LEPROSY, one of the 
most calamitous of all dis- 
eases, but not often found in 
cold countries. It is not now 
very common any where, 
but is found among the 
Arabs, and generally over 
the east. At Scio the phi- 
lanthropic Howard found 
a hospital expressly for pa- 
tients labouring under this 
malady. It contained 120 
persons, lodged in separate 
rooms. The symptoms and 
progress of the infection is 
fully described in the law of 
Moses. Lev. xiii. 

LET, is expressive, (1.) 
Of command, 1 Kings xviii. 
40. (2.) Of entreaty, Ps. 
lxix. 6. (3.) Of permission, 
Josh. xxiv. 28. (4.) Of in- 
trusting, or assigning by 
lease, Song viii. 11. (5.) 
To hinder, or keep back. 
Isa. xliii. 13. 2 Thess. ii. 7. 

LEVIATHAN. Most 
probably the animal meant 
by this name is the croco- 
which is a creature 
every way terrible, growing 
often to the length of thirty 
feet. It is shaped like the 
lizard, and lays its eggs in 
the sand to be hatched by 
the sun. By the kind prov- 
idence of God, the Ichneu- 
mon is fond of these eggs, 
and discovers and destroys 
great quantities of them, 



LIB 



130 



LIG 



Were it not for this, they 
would dreadfully increase. 

LEVITE,one of the tribe 
of Levi; an inferior minis- 
ter in the Jewish temple ; by 
which title he is distinguish- 
ed from the priest, who 
though likewise of the race 
of Levi, yet was descended 
from Aaron, whose posterity 
were employed in the high- 
er offices. 

LEVITICUS, the third 
book of the Old Testament; 
so called, chiefly because it 
contains the various laws of 
the Hebrews — especially the 
sacrifices, the charge of which 
was committed to the Le- 
vites, out of whom were taken 
the priests. In the Arabic 
and Syriac versions it is call- 
ed the law of the priests. 
Without this book many 
parts of the New Testament, 
especially the epistle to the 
Hebrews, could not be fully 
understood. 

LIBERTINES, free men. 
This was an appellation given 
to such Jews as had obtained 
by birth or otherwise, the 
freedom of a Roman city; or, 
in other words, the rights of 
a Roman citizen. Acts vi. 9. 
It was a birth right of Paul. 
Acts xxii. 28. 

LIBERTY, the power to 
do, or forbear to do ; free- 
dom, as opposed to slaveiy, 
or to necessity ; deliverance 
from any bondage ; freedom 
from the veil of 



and spiritual blindness, from 
the curse and yoke of the 
law, and from the slavery of 
sin ; a power or freedom in 
using things indifferent. 1 
Cor. viii. 9. 

LIBYA, a part of Africa, 
bordering on Egypt, famous 
for its armed chariots and 
horses. 2 Chron. xvi 8. 

LIGHT, that pure bright- 
ness which is every where 
diffused by the rays of the 
sun, and is the medium of vis- 
ion ; that divine and saving 
knowledge contained in the 
gospel. Matt. iv. 16. It is 
spoken of God, who is a being 
of infinite wisdom, truth, ho- 
liness, purity, &c. 1 John i. 
5 ; — of Jesus Christ, who is 
the fountain and author of all 
knowledge, both natural and 
spiritual, Luke ii. 32, John i. 
9; — of the word of God, 
which conducts and guides 
Christians in this world, and 
points out the w r ay to eter- 
nal happiness, Psalm cxix. 
105. 2 Peter i. 19 ;— of the 
apostles or ministers of the 
gospel, who assist others, and 
direct them to Christ and 
salvation, Matt. v. 14, 16; — 
of true Christians, who are 
enlightened by the Holy 
Spirit, and brought to the 
saving knowledge of God and 
Christ. Luke xvi. 8. Eph. 
v. 8. 

LIGN-ALOE, a small tree 
8 or 10 feet high; from both 
the flower and the wood of 



LIN 



131 



LOC 



which a rich and costly per- 
fume is still obtained in the 
east. Ps. xlv. 9. Cant. iv. 14. 
LIGURE, a precious stone ; 
but of what exact kind it is 
now difficult to ascertain. It 
is generally thought by learn- 
ed men to be the leschem. 
It was the first in the 
third row of the high priest's 
breast-plate, and had the 
name of Gad inscribed on it. 
It occurs in Exo. xxviii. 19, 
and xxxix. 12, only. 

LILY, a well known and 
beautiful plant, of which 
there are many varieties. 
The fields of the Levant are 
overrun with the superb 
•Amaryllis Lutea, to which 
probably our Saviour alludes, 
Matt, vi 30. As the scarci- 
ty of fuel obliges the inhabi- 
tants to use every sort of 
combustible matter, the with- 
ered stalks of these and other 
flowers, are used for ovens, 
&c. 

By the "lily of the val- 
ley," Cant. ii. 2, we are not 
to understand the humble 
flower so called with us, but 
the noble flower of the larger 
kind. The lily mentioned 
Cant. v. 13, seems to be the 
Crown Imperial, or Persian 
lily. The drop of sweet 
liquor alluded to, is the roscid 
nectar always found at the 
bottom of this flower. 

LINTEL, that part of a 
door frame which crosses the 
door over head. 



LION, the noblest of ani- 
mals. Found only in torrid 
climates, and much less 
numerous now than former- 
ly. It lives 60 or 80 years, 
but is not prolific. The al- 
lusions to its strength, cour- 
age, voraciousness, gener- 
osity, &c. in Scripture, are 
very numerous. His rage is 
tremendous. Job iv. 11. 
Prov. xxx. 30. Amos iii. 8. 

Lions were sent by Jeho- 
vah to chastise the profaners 
of bis chosen heritage. 2 
Kings xvii. 25, 26. The peo- 
ple humbled themselves, and 
adopted the Jewish laws and 
worship, at first in addition to 
the heathen institutions, but 
afterward exclusively. These 
were the Samaritans. 

The "Lion of the tribe of 
Judah," is Jesus Christ, who 
will mightily destroy the en- 
emies of his Church, and 
graciously receive such as 
submit themselves. Rev. v. 5. 

LOCUST, an insect well 
known among us, which in 
the east are often five or six 
inches long, and of the thick- 
ness of a man's thumb. Its 
head is shaped like that of a 
horse. Joel ii. 4. The mouth 
is large, and furnished with 
four incisive teeth, which 
traverse each other like scis- 
sors. The noise by a flock of 
them eating, is compared by 
Joel (ii. 5,) to the crackling 
sound of fire among stubble, 
and by modern travellers to 



LOC 



132 



LOV 



the rattling of hail stones 
The prophetical writings of 
the Old Testament abound 
with allusions to this insect 
as one of God's most dread- 
ful scourges. All travellers 
in the east speak of the 
dreadful ravages of this in- 
sect, which sometimes occur. 
The swarms are often a mile 
in length, darkening the day 
as they pass over, and form- 
ing a thickness of several 
inches when they settle on 
the earth. Nothing will im- 
pede their march ; they fill 
up the deepest trenches, ex- 
tinguish tires, and climb 
walls. All verdure disap- 
pears, and the country looks 
as if burnt over with fire. 
Ex. x. 4—19. 

Pliny states that in Ethio- 
pia and Parthia, they were 
generally eaten as whole- 
some and agreeable food. 
The law of Moses pronounc- 
ed them lawful to be eaten, 
Lev. xi. 22; and John the 
Baptist ate locusts, while in 
the wilderness. Mark i. 8. 
But whether these were the 
insects so called, or the sweet 
pulpy pods of a tree, is not 
fully agreed. The modern 
Arabs catch great quantities, 
which they cook in various 
ways, removing the legs and 
wings, and adding oil, salt, 
&c. Jackson, in his ac- 
count of Morocco, states that 
locusts are there esteemed a 
great delicacy, and during 



the time of their swarming, 
are served up at the principal 
tables. 

LOINS, the lower region 
of the back, where the girdle 
is worn. The orientals who 
wear long robes, are obliged 
when they apply themselves 
to any business, to use a 
girdle. Hence to have the 
" loins girt," is the same as 
to be in readiness for a thing. 
Luke xii. 35. Eph. vi. 14. 

LOT, the son of Haran, 
and nephew of Abraham ; 
and, as we suppose, brother 
of Sarah. After the death 
of his father, he lived and 
travelled with Abraham. 
Gen. xi. 31. 

Lot, any thing cast or 
drawn in order to determine 
a point in debate. It is a 
solemn appeal to God, for an 
immediate interposal of his 
directive power, for deter- 
mining the affair ; and, on 
that account, ought to be 
used in nothing but what is 
important, and cannot other- 
wise be peacefully determin- 
ed ; and it is to be used with 
reverence and prayer. Prov. 
xvi. 33. xviii. IS. Acts i. 
24, 25, 26. 1 Samuel xiv. 
41. 

LOVE, a natural affection 
of the mind, inclining us to 
esteem, or delight in an ob- 
ject; a gracious principle or 
habit wrought in the soul by 
God, which inclines us to 
obey him, to seek commu- 



LYD 



133 



MAC 



nion with him, and to study to 
promote his glory, and dis- 
poses us to do good to all. 

LOW, not rising far up- 
wards, Ezek. xvii. 6, 24 ; 
not elevated in situation, 
Isaiah xxxii. 19 ; not high in 
rank, Job v. 11. Luke i. 48, 
52 ; humble, not proud. 
Ezek. xxi. 26. " Lower 
parts of the earth," in Isa. 
xliv. 23, signify the valleys ; 
in Psalm Ixiii. 9, Ephesians 
iv. 9, the grave, or the state 
of the dead. 

LUKE, was a native of 
Antioch in Syria, and a phy- 
sician. He wrote not only 
the gospej which is called by 
his name, but the Acts of the 
Apostles. His language is 
exceedingly pure and classi- 

' LYCAO'NIA has Cappa- 

docia on the east, Galatia on 
the north, Phrygia on the 
west, and Pisidia on the 
south. A remarkable lake 
exists in this province, call- 
ed Tatia, and by the mod- 
erns Tuzla, which yields 
salt. Its chief cities were 
Iconium,* Derbe, and Lys- 
tra. The present name of 
this province is Caramania. 

LYDDA, a large village 
or city, not far from Joppa, 
Acts ix. 38, eminent for its 
schools of learned Jews. It 
was burnt by Cestius, while 
its males were gone to Je- 
rusalem to the feast of taber- 
nacles, God after the cruci- 



fixion not taking the care of 
them at these times as form- 
erly. It is now called Dios- 
polis. 



MACEDONIA, a large 
country north of Greece, 
peopled by the descendant* 
of Javan, and formerly call- 
ed Emathia. It was bound- 
ed by the mountains of H33- 
mus, on the north, the 
^Egean sea on the east, 
Achaia on the south, and the 
Adriatic sea on the west. 
Its metropolis was Thessa- 
lonica. One of its mountains 
was the famous Olympus. 
Several othercountries, how- 
ever, had mountains so call- 
ed and esteemed sacred. It 
was a famous monarchy un- 
der Philip, and Alexander 
the great, who conquered 
Greece, Persia, and a part of 
Judea. About A. M. 3856, 
it became a part of the great 
Roman Empire, and contin- 
ued subject to the Romans 
1600 years, when the Otto- 
man Turks conquered it. 
Paul planted the gospel here, 
and the Christians contribut- 
ed very generously to their 
suffering brethren at Jerusa- 
lem. Christianity has never 
wholly been eradicated from 
Macedonia, though theTurks 
have been cruel masters. 



. MAN 



134 



MAN 



MAGICIANS or Magi, 
See Wise Men. 

MALACHI, the last of the 
prophets of the Old Testa- 
ment. He flourished after 
the rebuilding of the temple 
and Jerusalem by Ezra and 
Nehemiah, and was co-tem- 
porary with Plato the phi- 
losopher ; Cimon, the Athe- 
nian general ; Ahyrtjeus 
king of Egypt, and Darius 
Nothus, king of Persia. 
With him the prophetical 
office seerm to have ceased 
for nearly 400 years; that is, 
till Messiah carne. 

MALLOWS, a plant very 
useful in medicine, one spe- 
cies of which grows to about 
the size of Indian corn. What 
plant is meant, Job xxx. 4, 
where alone the word occurs, 
is not certain. It is evident- 
ly food for poor people, and 
may therefore be the hali- 
mus, a saltish plant growing 
wild on poor land, which is 
eaten in Syria and else- 
where, as we do greens. 

MAMMON, a Syriac word 
signifying riches or treasure. 
No man can " serve God and 
mammon ;" no one can love 
and serve God, while his 
great aim and desire is to 
heap up, enjoy, and retain 
worldly wealth. Mat. vi. 24. 

MAN. The Hebrew word 
for man is Enosh ; that is, 
wretched, to denote his con- 
dition in his apostasy from 
God, The " natural man," 



1 Cor. ii. 14, means one that 
is unrenewed, and has no 
principle of grace in the 
heart. u The inward man," 
Rom. vii. 22, is the regener- 
ate part within, or the prin- 
ciple of grace in the heart. 
"The man of God," 2 Tim. 
iii. 17, is one that is guided 
by the Spirit of God, and in 
a special manner, devoted to 
his service. 

MANDRAKE, a species 
of melon or berry; cultivat- 
ed in the East, for the sake of 
its fragrance. Though com- 
mentators have puzzled 
themselves with questions on 
this subject, it seems plain 
that the word is properly 
rendered mandrake, and 
means a plant so called in<he 
East, to this day. The orig- 
inal word which only occurs 
twice, is so rendered by the 
LXX. and both the Tar- 
gums. It grows like lettuce, 
has purple flowers, and bears 
a fruit resembling a small 
red apple. The smell and 
taste are pleasant ; but it 
stupifies or intoxicates if eat- 
en to excess. 

MANNA, the delicious 
food with which God fed the 
children of Israel in the wil- 
derness. It was a little grain, 
white like our hoar-frost, 
which fell every morning, 
except on the Sabbath, about 
the camp of the Israelites. 
Exo. xvi. 15. Besides the 
nourishing virtue of the 






MAN 



135 



MAR 



manna that sustained the 
Hebrews in the desert, it was 
altogether miraculous on oth- 
er accounts. It fell on six 
days of every week, not on 
the seventh, and in such pro- 
digious quantities, as to sus- 
tain almost three millions of 
men, women and children ! 
It fell in double quantities 
on the sixth day, that there 
might be enough for the sev- 
enth. It fell only on Israel's 
camp. It remained fresh all 
the seventh day, but at any 
other time, bred worms, if 
kept over night. It constant- 
ly continued for forty years, 
and ceased as soon as the He- 
brews had access to eat of the 
produce of Canaan. Christ 
is the hidden Manna, the 
Bread of eternal life, which 
those eat who partake of the 
blessings and comforts which 
flowfrom him. John vi. 32, 35. 
There is still a kind of 
manna, produced in Italy, 
Poland, Calabria, and Arabia. 
Barckhardt found it in the 
Holy Land, dropping from 
the tarfa tree, in the month of 
June. The Arabs clear away 
the leaves, dirt, &c. and when 
boiled, and strained, put it 
into bags or skins, to be used 
as we do honey. It is high- 
ly nourishing, but if eaten 
in large quantities, proves 
slightly purgative. This 
manna seems, in many res- 
pects, different from that 
which the Hebrews enjoyed. 



MARANATH'A, a Syriac 
word, meaning " our Lord 
cometh " 

MARK, the son of Mary, 
at, whose house a prayer 
meeting was kept, Acts xii. 
12. He was cousin to Bar- 
nabas, and a companion of 
Paul and Barnabas, Acts xv. 
37. 

MARRIAGE, the act of 
uniting a man and woman in 
wedlock ; it also signifies the 
sacred and mystical union 
between Christ and his 
church. Eph. v. 30—32. 
Christians are forbidden to 
marry unbelievers, 2 Cor. vi. 
14. 1 Cor. vii. 39. 

MARY. Four or five per- 
sons mentioned in the New 
Testament, seem to have 
borne this name. Great diffi- 
culty occurs in designating 
them, and learned men dif- 
fer widely in their attempts 
to make the subject plain. 
The following account seems 
liable to fewest objections. 

(1.) The mother of our 
Lord. She was the daugh- 
ter of Eli, or Joachim, of the 
family of David. 

(2.) Mary, the wife of 
Cleophas, and mother of 
James, Jude, Joses, Simeon, 
and Salome. Cleophas, and 
Joseph the husband of the 
virgin Mary, were probably 
brothers ; which made these 
Marys sisters. Her children 
are, therefore, represented 
as the brothers of our Lord, 



MAT 



136 



MED 



John xix. 25. Matt, xxvii. 
56. Luke xxiv. 10. Matt, 
xiii. 55. She early believed 
on our Saviour, attended his 
preaching, and ministered 
to him for his support. She 
was a witness of his cruci- 
fixion. Mark xv. 40, 41 ; 
and at his burial prepared 
spices for embalming his 
body. Luke xxiii. 56. 

(3) MaryMagdale'ne, 
seems to have been an inhab- 
itant of Magdala ; it is 
thought by some, that she 
was a plaiter of hair to the 
women of her city. 

MA'TRIX, a place in 
which any thing is formed ; 
a womb. Ex. xiii. 12, 15. 

MATTHEW was also 
named Levi, a Galilean by 
birth, and a tax-gatherer by 
profession. He wrote the 
gospel called by his name, 
probably about A. D. 38 or 
41 in the Hebrew language. 
Some critics maintain, that 
a few years afterward he 
wrote his gospel in Greek ; 
and some consider it to have 
been originally written in 
that language. About A. D. 
184, there was found in the 
East Indies, a Greek copy. 
In the year A. D. 488, anoth- 
er Greek copy was found at 
Cyprus, written on wood, 
and esteemed very ancient. 

xMATTHIAS, one of the 
seventy disciples, chosen by 
the first church, perhaps 
without a sufficient divine 



j warrant, to fill the place of 
Judas Iscariot. 

MAZ'ZAROTH, supposed 
to mean a constellation in the 
heavens. It was the Chaldee 
name for the signs of the 
Zodiac. 

MEASURE, that by which 
any thing is measured or pro- 
portioned. Many learned 
men have bestowed great la- 
bour in ascertaining the exact 
length or capacity of Hebrew 
measures; but they differ 
widely from each other. 
Standard measures, made by 
Moses, were at first deposit- 
ed in the tabernacle, and af- 
terwards in the temple, under 
the cognizance of the priests. 
When Solomon's temple was 
destroyed, these standards of 
course perished, and the 
whole subject is now uncer- 
tain, and though tables of 
measures are often given in 
books, they cannot be implic- 
itly relied on. Under each 
term of this sort, that explan- 
ation is given, which seems 
most probable. 

MEAT-OFFERING, an 
offering consisting generally 
of flour, meal, oil, &c. or 
cakes baked in an oven, &c. 

MEDIA, a vast region be- 
tween Persia and the Caspian 
Sea, deriving its name from 
Madai, son of Japhet, Gen. 
x. 2. Cyrus, king of Persia, 
by his wife fell heir to the 
crown of Media, thus making 
the kingdom of the Medes 



MEG 



137 



MEL 



and Persians. Media is now 
called Aider -Beitzan, and 
sometimes Irak Adjam. 

MEDIATOR, one who 
acts between parties at va- 
riance, in order to bring them 
to an agreement, Gal. iii. 20. 
Moses was often a mediator 
between Jehovah and the 
Jews, Deut. v. 5. The Lord 
Jesus is now the "one medi- 
ator between God and men," 
1 Tim. ii. 5. He alone, by 
his satisfaction to God, and 
intercession with him, and 
by his powerful and gracious 
instruction and influence on 
sinful men, brings both to- 
gether, into a new covenant 
state of agreement. Heb. 
viii. 6. xii. 24. 

MEEKNESS, that quiet 
temper of mind, which u not 
soon provoked to anger, but 
suffers injuries without de- 
sire of revenge, and submits 
to the will of God, Col. iii. 
12 ; a humble frame of spirit, 
ready to receive and enter- 
tain the truths of God's word. 
James i. 21. It is a grace of 
unspeakable value, 1 Pet. iii. 
4. Ps. xxxvii. II ; and shone 
conspicuously in the life of 
Christ, 2 Cor. x. 1. Matt. xi. 
29. It is enjoined on Chris- 
tians, with great frequency 
to excel in this grace, Eph. 
iv. 2. 1 Tim. vi. IV Titus 
iii. 2, &c. 

MEGID'DO, a city in the 
tribe of Manasseh, famous for 
two great battles being fought 
M 



near it. In one, Jabin's ar- 
my was routed by Deborah 
and Barak, Judg. v. 19 ; in the 
other, Josiah was overthrown 
and slain by Necho, king of 
Egypt, who was on his way 
through the land of Israel to 
attack the king of Babylon. 
2 Kings xxiii. 29, SO. Near 
Megiddo was the town of 
Hadad-Rimmon, (called af- 
terwards Maximianopolis,) 
therefore the lamentation for 
the death of Josiah, is called 
" the mourning of Hadad- 
Rimmon, in the valley of 
Megiddon." Zeoh. xii. 11. 
The greatness of that mourn- 
ing for good Josiah was such 
as that the quoted expression 
was a proverbial one for any 
great sorrowing, and is so 
used by the prophet. 

MELCHISEDEK, a priest, 
though not a Jew ; of whose 
nation, parentage, age, &c. 
nothing is known. Hence 
he is said to be " without 
descent, having neither be- 
ginning of days, nor end of 
life." Gen. xiv. 17—20. 
Heb. vii. 1 — 11. Jesus is a 
priest after the order of Mel- 
chisedek ; as God, he was 
without beginning ; as man, 
his origin was miraculous ; 
he was installed in his office 
only by God, and is therein 
superior to all other priests. 
Hebrews v. 10. vi. 20. 

MEL'ITA or MALTA, a 
small island of the Mediter- 
ranean Sea, is about 18 miles 



MEL 



138 



MER 



long, and 12 broad, and 
seems to have had its name 
from its being Melet, or a 
place of refuge to the ancient 
Tyrians in their voyages to 
Carthage and Spain. About 
A. D. 63, Paul and his com- 
panions were shipwrecked 
on this island, and kindly en- 
tertained by the natives. It 
was subjugated by the Goths 
and Vandals in the fifth cen- 
tury, taken by the Normans 
in the eleventh, and was af- 
terward taken by Louis IX. 
of France. About A. D. 
1530, it was given by Charles 
V. to the Military Knights, 
who had been driven by the 
Turks from Rhodes. They 
were dispossessed and dis- 
persed by the French under 
Bonaparte, in 1788. It was 
afterwards taken from the 
French by England, under 
whose government it now 
remains. The number of 
inhabitants is about 50,000. 
These are, for the most part, 
Catholics, and excessively 
ignorant and degraded. Mr. 
Fisk saw no books in their 
language, but a popish cate- 
chism, the gospel of John, 
(printed by the Church Mis- 
sionary Society, under the 
superintendence of Mr. Jew- 
ett,) a grammar, and a dic- 
tionary. The Rev. Mr. Tem- 
ple, speaking of the aversion 
of Romish priests to the pe- 
rusal of the Scriptures by 
the common people, says that 



on account of this prejudice, 
" government has for the 
last 5 years declined giving 
permission to the Malta Bible 
Society, to place a board over 
the door of its depository for 
the purpose of informing the 
public that Bibles could be 
had there ! It has lately be- 
come a centre of Missionary 
and Bible operations for the 
countries' bordering on the 
Mediterranean. By the 
contributions of Christians, 
printing presses are establish- 
ed here, and kept employed 
in producing tracts, &c. in 
the Arabic, Greek, Turkish, 
and other languages, which, 
as it is a place of great com- 
merce, are easily distributed. 

MEMPHIS, an Egyptian 
cit}' of great size and splen- 
dour which once stood near 
old Cairo; but of which there 
are now no vestiges. Bos. 
ix. 6. 

MER'ARITES, descend- 
ants of Merari, the third son 
of Levi. These were bear- 
ers of the materials of the 
tabernacle, and in late times 
sacred porters. 

MERCURY, one of the 
fabulous deities of the Heath- 
en, was the son of Jupiter 
and Maia, and messenger to 
the rest. He was worship- 
ped as the patron of learning, 
eloquence, and trade. He 
was sometimes called Her- 
mes. The fluency of Paul 
made L the people of Lystra 






MES 



139 



MID 



suppose Paul was Mercury. 
Acts xiv. 12. 

MERCY. That attribute 
of God which induces him to 
pity and relieve his suffering 
creatures. Titus iii. 5. Our 
blessings are therefore call- 
ed mercies, Rom. xii. 1. It 
means also that feeling, 
which prompts us to assist 
the unfortunate, and to for- 
give those that do wrong. 
Matt. v. 7. Luke vi. 36. 

MERCY-SEAT, the lid 
of the ark of the covenant, 
round which was the crown 
or border of gold, and on 
which the cherubim were 
represented as looking. Be- 
fore this the High Priest 
stood to ask counsel of the 
Lord, and there he received 
blessings for the people. 
Christ is our mercy-seat, 
Romans iii. 25, and by him 
we have access to the Fa- 
ther. 

MESOPOTAMIA. The 
word means between rivers. 
The famous province of this 
name was between the Ti- 
gris and Euphrates, and is 
called in the Old Testament, 
Padan-Aram; by the ancient 
Greeks, Seleucia ; and by the 
Latins, Mediamna. Some 
suppose the wise men who 
visited the infant Jesus, 
were from this country. Here 
was the garden of Eden, and 
the tower of Babel. It was 
the original residence of 
Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and 



all their children, save Ben- 
jamin, Gen. xi. 31. It was 
astonishingly populous, con- 
taining according to Ptolemy 
70 important cities. - Chris- 
tianity in a mutilated form 
still exists here, amid much 
Turkish oppression. The 
region is now called Diarb&- 
kir. 

MESSIAH, the same as 
Christ, and signifies the an- 
ointed. It is applied exclu- 
sively, to that sovereign De- 
liverer, who was expected by 
the Jews, and came at the 
appointed time. Dan. ix. 25, 
26. John i. 41. 

MIC AH, a prophet, who 
lived in the latter days of 
Isaiah and Hosea. The book 
written by Micah, is one of 
the most important prophe- 
cies in the Old Testament. 
Previous predictions had 
limited the " seed of the 
woman," to the line of Shem, 
the descendants of Abraham, 
the tribe of Judah, and the 
house of David. Micah sheds 
further light, by designating 
the very place of his birth, 
Ch. v. 2, with other impor- 
tant circumstances of his 
kingdom and glory. 

MIDIAN, a territory on 
the east border of the Dead 
Sea, so called from Midian, 
the fourth son of Abraham, 
by Keturah. The Midian- 
ites joined with Moab in se- 
ducing Israel, for which 
their kingdom was nearly 



MIL 



140 



M1N 



destroyed. They gradually 
grew to strength again, and 
200 years afterward proved 
a scourge to the Israelites, 
Having oppressed Israel sev- 
en years in the days of Gid- 
eon, the Lord delivered them 
into the hands of a few He- 
brews, by whom they were 
nearly exterminated, and the 
remainder are supposed to 
have become incorporated 
with the Moabites or Am- 
monites. Jud. vi. — viii. 

MILE'TUS.orMiLETUM, 
a seaport city of Caria, in 
Lesser Asia, and the capital 
of both Caria and Ionia. It 
stood about 36 miles south 
west of Ephesus, and is said 
to have been built by Mile- 
tus, the son of the god Apol- 
lo, whose temple here was 
exceedingly magnificent. 
Here were four harbours 
sufficient to hold all the Per- 
sian fleet. Here Thales and 
Anaximenes, the famed phi- 
losophers, and Timotheus, the 
famous musician, were born. 
The place was famed for its 
milote y or milate, a soft kind 
of wool, of which they made 
fine carpets. Paul sent for, 
and gave solemn charges to 
the elders of that church. 
Acts xx. 15 — 38. For about 
three hundred years after 
Christ, we find no marks of a 
church at Miletus ; but in 
the 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th 
centuries of the Christian 
era, there were bishops in 



this place. Since the Sara- 
cens ravaged these parts, it 
has so gone to ruin, that 
nothing is to be seen but rub- 
bish, and a few cottages for 
shepherds. 

MILL. See Grind. 

MILLET, a very common 
grain in eastern countries, 
but far inferior in excellence 
to wheat. Its name is deriv- 
ed from the Latin mille> a 
thousand, in allusion to its 
extraordinary fruitfulness. It 
is made into bread with oil 
or butter, and is almost the 
only food of the poorest class- 
es in Arabia Felix. It occurs 
Ezek. iv.9. only. 

MINCING, doing a thing 
affectedly, as eating, walk- 
ing, &c. Isa. iii. 16. 

MINISTER, one who 
serves another It is applied 
to Christ, who is called a 
" minister of the sanctuary," 
being now entered into heav- 
en, where he is our preva- 
lent Intercessor ; to such as 
are appointed to attend the 
service of God in his church, 
to dispense faithfully and 
wisely the word and sacra- 
ments; to officers of the 
state and magistrates, who 
punish the transgressors of 
the law, and defend the good ; 
to the holy angels, who are 
always ready to execute the 
commands of God. 

MINSTREL, a professed 
musician, or singer. Elisha 
had one to sooth his troubled 



MIR 



141 



MOA 



mind, 2 Kings iii. 15, as did 
Saul, 1 Sam. xvi. 23 ; some 
of these were employed at 
funerals to superintend the 
rites of interment. They 
sang and played funeral odes, 
and mournful songs ; uttered 
doleful shrieks and ejacula- 
tions, and exhibited the most 
vehement expressions of 
grief. The practice was 
very ancient, as we learn 
from Jer. ix. 17, 18. "Thus 
saith the Lord of Hosts, oon- 
sider ye, and call for the 
Mourning Women, that 
they may come, and send for 
CunningWomen, that they 
may come; and let them 
make haste, and take up a 
wailing for us, that our eyes 
may run down with tears, 
and our eye-lids gush out 
with waters." We discover 
the pfactice also in the time 
of our Saviour; for these were 
the persons who laughed 
him to scorn, when about 
to raise the ruler's daugh- 
ter, Matt. ix. 23, 24. 

MIRACLE, a wonder ; an 
effect above any human skill 
to accomplish, performed in 
proof of some important truth. 
The divinity of our Saviour 
was proved by the miracles 
he performed. They were 
such as could be wrought 
only by the power of God, 
and had for their object, to 
confirm a doctrine becoming 
the glorious attributes of 
God; and the accomplish- 



ment of prophecies concern- 
ing the Messiah, whose com- 
ing it was foretold should be 
with miraculous healing ben- 
efits. John iii. 2, 9,16. The 
form of true religion being 
now established in the world, 
miracles have ceased, as be- 
ing no longer necessary. The 
existence and prevalence of 
Christianity, amid the oppo- 
sition of men's inclinations 
and endeavours ; with the 
frequent fulfilment of proph- 
ecies now taking place, are 
sufficient authentications. 
Modern popish miracles are 
a sad evidence of the chica- 
nery and corruption of Ro- 
manism. 

MITE, the smallest Jew- 
ish coin, equal to about one 
sixth or eighth of our cent. 

MITYLE'NE, the capital 
of Lesbos, an island of the 
Grecian Archipelago, was 
a large and beautiful city. It 
was famous as the birth 
place of Jllcceus, the poet, 
Sappho, the poetess, Theo- 
phanes, the historian, Pitta- 
cus, the philosopher, and 
Diophanes, the orator. On 
the same island were born 
Theophrastus, the sage, and 
Potamon, the rhetorician. It 
is now called Castro, and 
sometimes Metilin. 

MOAB, (1.) The son of 
Lot, was bom about the 
same time as Isaac, in A. M. 
2108. (2.) The land called 
by his name, eastward of the 



MON 



142 



MON 



Dead Sea, and about the riv- 
er Arnon. The present 
name of this country is El- 
Rabba. 

MOLOCH, an idol of the 
Ammonites; called also Ash- 
toreth and Mai com or Mil- 
com. Solomon built a temple 
to this deity, and the Israel- 
ites seemed more easily to 
slide into the idolatry of this 
god than any other. Lev. 
xviii. 21. 1 Kings xi. See 
Ashtoreth and Baal. 

MONEY was, in ancient 
times, dealt out by weight. 
Gen. xxiii. 9 — 16. Job vi. 
2. Zech. xi. 12. The Per- 
sians began to use coined 
money about the time of 
Darius Hystaspes. The 
Greeks had no coin before 
the days of Alexander ; nor 
the Egyptians before the 
Ptolemies ; nor the Hebrews, 
till the government of Judas 
Maccabeus ; to whom An- 
tiochus Sidetes, king of Syr- 
ia, granted the privilege of 
coining his own money in 
Judea. The coin commonly 
called " a piece of money," 
was probably a shekel, or the 
Greek stater, which was of 
the value of fifty cents. Mat. 
xvii. 27. A pound was about 
equal to sixty shekels. A 
penny was one fourth of a 
stater or shekel, equal to 
twelve cents of our money. 
A farthing was the fortieth 
part of a penny, or about the 
third of our cent. Matt. v. 



26. A mite was half a farth- 
ing. Mark xii. 42. It is 
thought there was also a 
farthing equal to one tenth of 
a Roman penny. Instead of 
inserting uncertain tables of 
coins, the best practicable 
elucidation of such as are 
mentioned in the Bible, is 
given under each word of 
the kind. 

MONEY-CHANGERS, 
were such as, for profit, ex- 
changed foreign coins, or 
gave smaller pieces of money 
for larger, or larger for small- 
er, to accommodate such as 
came to worship at Jerusa- 
lem. As all Jews were 
obliged to contribute for the 
support of the temple, and to 
pay in Jewish money, (Ne- 
hemiah x. 32,) their traffic 
was profitable. They seem 
not to have been strictly just 
in their dealings, and the 
place they chose for their 
business was improper. Jesus 
twice drove them from the 
temple. John ii. 14, 15. 
Matthew xxi. 12. 

MONTH, a space of time, 
which, if measured by the 
moon, (whence its name) is 
called lunar ; and if by the 
sun, is called solar. See 
Year. When we speak of 
Jewish months as correspond- 
ing to ours, some allowance 
must be made ; for theirs 
were lunar, and ours are so- 
lar, which are not exactly 
alike. The Hebrew months 



MOO 



143 



MOT 



commonly answer to two of 
our months, and partake of 
both. In the following table 
the months are numbered as 
they stood both in the civil 
and sacred years, and corres- 
ponds principally to the 
month named, and partly to 
the succeeding one : 



a 


CO 




1. 

2. 


7. Tizri, or 

8. Marchesvan, 


September. 
October. 


S. 


9. Chisleu, 


JSovember. 


4. 


10. Tebet, 


December. 


5. 

6. 
7. 


11. Shebat, 

12. Adar, 

1. Abib, or Nisar 


January. 
February. 
, March. 


8. 


2. Jair, or Zif, 


April. 


9. 


S. Sivau, 


May. 


10. 


4. Thainmus, 


June. 


11. 

12. 


5. Ab, 

6. Elul, 


July. 
August. 



MOON, a secondary plan- 
et, always attendant on our 
earth. The moon was form- 
ed to give light in, and rule 
the night ; and to distinguish 
times and seasons. Gen. i. 
14. She seems to have a 
mighty influence on the ebb- 
ing and flowing of the sea ; 
and was the great regulator 
of the Jewish feasts. The 
heathens have generally 
worshipped the moon, under 
the names of Queen of heav- 
en, Venus, Urania, Succoth- 
benoth, Ashtaroth, Diana, 
Hecate, or perhaps Meni, &c. 
Job xxxi. 26, 27. Deut. iv. 
19. xvii. 3. The orientals 
regulate their journeys by 



the moon, and set off soon al- 
ter her change. 

MORDECAI, the son of 
Jair, grandson of Kish, and 
descendant of the family of 
Saul, w r as carried to Babylon 
with Jehoiachin, king of Ju- 
dah, w 7 hen he was very 
young. He rose to a seat at 
the king's gate ; that is, to 
be one of the great men of 
the kingdom. Ruth iv. 1. 
Esther ii. 19, and v. 9. 

MORIAH, a hill adjacent 
to Jerusalem, on the north 
east. Here Abraham offered 
his son, Gen. xxii. When 
Solomon built the temple on 
it, it became included in the 
city. 2 Chron. iii. 1. 

MOTE, a speck, or splin- 
ter ; any very small thing. 
A person greatly under the 
dominion of any particular 
sin, reproving another who 
is less so, is compared by our 
Saviour, to a man's attempt- 
ing to pull a mote out of his 
friend's eye, while a beam is 
in his own. Matt. vii. 3. 

MOTH, a very small, frail 
insect, found most frequently 
in garments which lay long 
unused. Insects which fly, 
are divided by naturalists in- 
to Diurnal and Nocturnal, or 
Butterflies and Moths. By 
far the greatest number be- 
long to the latter class, of 
which some idea may be 
gained from the variety 
which assemble round a light 
in summer. The kind which 



MOU 



144 



MOU 



produces the injury to wool- 
lens, is the Tinea Argentea, 
a small white miller, seen in 
the spring, flying about in 
book-stores, fur-stores, &c. It 
lays its eggs where the 
worm, which is of a shining 
silvery colour, may, when 
hatched, find food till chang- 
ed into a winged insect, like 
the parent. The allusions to 
this creature in sacred Scrip- 
ture are important, though 
not numerous. It is said, Job 
iv. 19, that man is, (l crushed 
before the moth ;" that is, is 
overcome by the smallest en- 
emies, and secretly and im- 
perceptibly wastes away, as 
doth a garment. Isa. 1. 9. 
When the Lord meant to de- 
stroy Ephraim, but not sud- 
denly, he says, " I will be 
as a moth uuto Ephraim." 
The moth forms her cell in 
the cloth, and is, therefore, 
destroying her abode day by 
day, till at last both are re- 
duced to nothing. Such is 
the prosperity of a wicked 
man, " he buildeth his house 
as a moth." He lives only 
to adjust his nest, and revel 
in his plenty, but both he and 
his shall be destroyed. Job 
xxii. 18. 

MOURNING is done 
with great violence in ori- 
ental countries. The Jews 
from their earliest period, 
made great lamentations for 
the dead. Genesis 1. 7 — 14. 
Tearing the hair, rending 



the cloths, (which was pro- 
hibited to the High Priest) 
and uttering piercing cries, 
going barefoot, and striking 
the breast, wearing sack- 
cloth, sprinkling dust on the 
head, and fasting, were com- 
mon modes of expressing 
grief. It seems to have been 
customary among them to 
hire mourners, who super- 
intended the lamentations, 
and who in funeral odes, mel- 
ancholy songs, and dolorous 
ejaculations, deplored the 
sorrows of the bereft, cele- 
brated the virtues of the de- 
ceased, and excited the sym- 
pathy of spectators. Jer. ix. 
17, 18. Amos v. 16. Matt, 
ix. 23. It would seem that 
a collection of such of these 
as were made by prophets, 
&c. for great' men, was pre- 
served among the state 
archives. 2 Chron. xxxv. 25. 
See those which David com- 
posed for Saul and Jonathan, 
Abner and Absalom. That 
of Jeremiah for Josiah, refer- 
red to in the passage just 
quoted, is rot now extant. 

MOUSE, a very small 
quadruped, but very injuri- 
ous. Some are peculiar to 
fields and gardens, never ap- 
proaching houses ; and some 
live in houses only. In east- 
ern countries the field mouse 
sometimes ravages whole 
fields, and even districts, 
which was one of the plagues 
endured by the Philistines 



MUL 



145 



MUS 



for keeping the ark of God, 
and the reason why jive 
golden mice were sent back 
with it. 1 Sam. vi.4, 5. In 
the 12th century, Palestine 
was for four successive 
years, so overrun with mice, 
as to create a famine. Some 
eminent authors consider 
that our common mouse is 
not mentioned in Scripture, 
and that the word so render- 
ed, 1 Sam. vi. 5. Isa. lxvi. 
17, means the Jerhoa, or 
mountain rat, of Arabia, 
Palestine, &c. See Coney. 
Mice are amazingly prolific ; 
and were not the increase 
kept down by their being 
the chosen food of owls, 
hawks, snakes, weasels, 
cats, &c. they would prove 
a continual scourge. 

MUFFERS, masks or 
thick vails, concealing all 
the face except the eyes. 
Isa. iii. 19. 

MULE, an animal of 
mixed breed, between a 
horse and an ass. We know 
of the existence of mules so 
long ago as the time of Ho- 
mer; and though the Jews 
were forbidden to have any 
mixed race of animals, yet 
they were employed in the 
Holy Land long before the 
time of David. It is re- 
markably sure footed, pa- 
tient, hardy, obstinate, swift 
and strong ; and lives to 
twice the age of a horse. 
They are little used in New 
N 



England, but are very com- 
mon in the southern states. 
Still more use is made of 
them in South America, 
France, Spain, and especial- 
ly in mountainous regions, 
as the Alps, Pyrennees, &c. 
MUNITION, a fort; a 
secure place. Isaiah xxxiii. 
16. The word is now chiefly 
used to mean materials for 
war. 

MURRAIN, a disease 
which smote the cattle of 
the Egyptians, and is rapid 
and destructive in its prog- 
ress. As in Europe epidem- 
ic distempers in cattle have 
been known to advance over 
a country at the rate of a 
certain number of miles in 
a day, it has been supposed 
that . the cause was flying 
insects. 

MUSIC is of very ancient 
origin. Tubal, a descendant 
of Cain, long before the 
flood, taught men to play on 
the harp and organ. Laban 
complained that Jacob de- 
prived him of an opportunity 
of sending off his daughters 
with music. Gen. iv. 21. 
xxxi. 27. The ancient He- 
brews had a taste for music : 
when they had passed the 
Red Sea, both men and 
women sung their respective 
hymns to the praise of their 
miraculous Deliverer. Exo. 
xv. Silver trumpets were 
divinely ordered to be made 
for sounding over their sac- 



MUS 



146 



MYR 



rifices, especially at solemn 
feasts. Num. x. David was 
an excellent musician, and 
it seems had plenty of sing- 
ing men and singing women 
in his court. 1 Sam. xvi. 
Solomon had them perhaps 
in far greater number. Eccl. 
B. 8. In the time of Jero- 
boam, the son ofJoash, the 
Israelites valued themselves 
upon inventing new musical 
instruments. Amos vi. 5. 
At his idolatrous festival, 
Nebuchadnezzar had a large 
concert of music ; and music 
was the ordinary recreation 
of the Midian king. Dan. 
iii. 5, 15. David composed 
a variety of Psalms, and 
caused his skilful players to 
set them to music, as appears 
by their inscriptions to Jedu- 
thun, Asaph, or the sons of 
Korah. 1 Chron. xv. IS. As 
the Levites were eased of a 
great part of their charge, 
by the tabernacle and ark 
being fixed in a place, David 
had great numbers of them 
devote themselves to music, 
and distributed four thou- 
sand sacred singers into 
twenty-four classes, who 
should serve at the temple 
in their turns. The three 
chief musicians were Asaph, 
Heman, and Jeduthan. The 
four sons of Asaph, six of 
Jeduthun, and fourteen of 
Heman, constituted the 
chiefs of these twenty-four 
classes, Their jveginoth, 



or stringed instruments, 
were the psaltery and harp, 
to which may, perhaps, be 
added, the skeminith, shu- 
sltan, or shushanim, and the 
alamoth, the dulcimer and 
sachbut ; and the nehiloth, 
or wind instruments, were 
the organ, cornet, flute, pipe, 
and trumpet. They had also 
timbrels, cymbals, and bells. 
But as to many of these in- 
struments, our best informa- 
tion affords us no certain 
knowledge of their particu- 
lar forms. 

MUSTARD, a plant, the 
seed of which is very small, 
but which in some latitudes 
becomes arboreous, and ac- 
quires a great size, so as to 
be truly the" greatestamong 
herbs." Mention is made 
in the Talmud of enormous 
mustard plants, into one of 
which the owner climbed, 
as into a fig-tree ; and anoth- 
er was so large as to cover 
a tent. That mentioned in 
Matt. xiii. 31, is called by 
Linnaeus, Sinapi Eurocoidcs. 
Its branches are real wood, 
as appears from a specimen 
in the collection of the late 
Sir Joseph Banks. 

MYRRH, a gum issuing 
from a tree of the same 
name, common in Arabia, 
Egypt, and Abyssinia. 
Sometimes it issues sponta- 
neously ; but is chiefly ob- 
tained by means of incisions 
which are made twice a 



MYS 



147 



NAO 



year, the gum being receiv- 
ed on mats spread below. It 
comes to Europe in loose 
grains somewhat like gum- 
arabic. The ancients used 
it as a perfume, and for em- 
balming the dead. It is very 
bitter, whence it is called 
gall; and being supposed 
to have the property, like 
opium, of mitigating the 
sense of pain, it was an- 
ciently administered to crim- 
inals to alleviate their an- 
guish. Hence some one 
benevolently offered it to 
Christ, but he declined such 
relief. Mark xv. 23. 

MYRTLE, a beautiful 
shrub, very common in the 
east. The blossoms are per- 
fectly white, and intensely 
fragrant. In this unconge- 
nial climate, its size is very 
diminutive ; but in the Le- 
vant, it attains the height of 
eight or ten feet. The 
church is compared to the 
myrtle. Isa. lv. 13. 

MYS'IA, the north-west- 
ern province of Asia Minor, 
on the iSgean Sea, Acts xvi. 
7, 8. Cicero, in his orations, 
calls the people a despicable 
race. 

MYSTERY, a secret; 
something which , at present, 
we do not fully understand. 
Thus the doctrines ofa Trin- 
ity, the incarnation, the 
union which exists between 
Christ and his people, &c. 
are mysteries. Many things 



which were mysteries an- 
ciently, are made known by 
Christ and his apostles ; and 
many things in the Bible 
which are mysteries to the 
irreligious, or to feeble 
Christians, are understood 
by such as are eminently 
good and studious. 



N. 

NAHUM, the seventh of 
the minor prophets, is 
thought to have lived at the 
time Sennacherib invaded 
Judah. The book, which 
bears his name, is in the 
form of a poem ; and is 
thought by critics to be one 
of the most finished and sub- 
lime in any language. 

NAKED ; uncovered, ex- 
posed. Gen. ii. 25. This 
word is often used, in a 
modified sense, to describe a 
person only partly clothed. 
Micah i. *8. John xxi. 7. 
It is also used figuratively, 
in various senses. Job xxvi. 
6, &c. * 

NA'OMI, and her hus- 
band Elimelech, retired to 
the land of Moab, because of 
a famine in Canaan ; where 
their two sons, Mahlon and 
Chilion, married Orpah and 
R uth. After about ten years, 
Elimelech and his sons died 
without leaving any chil- 



NAZ 



148 



NEB 



dren. The return of Naomi 
to her country, and her sub- 
sequent history, are narrated 
with great beauty and in- 
struct! ven ess in the book of 
Ruth. 

NATURE. (I.) The nat- 
ural order of things, estab- 
lished in the world. (2.) The 
actual state of any thing, or 
that which makes it what it 
is. (3.) That principle of 
reason, or natural light in 
the mind of man, which is 
capable of great improve- 
ment, but requires the grace 
of God to direct it to its 
proper end. Romans ii. 14. 
3 Cor. xi. 14. 
NAZARETH, a small city 
cf Galilee, about 75 miles 
north of Jerusalem, situated 
on the side of a hill, and 
overlooking a superb and 
spacious valley formed by 
surrounding mountains. It 
was noted for wickedness, 
Mark i. 9. John i. 46. Here 
our Saviour laboured the 
most part of thirty years of 
his private life ; but their 
contempt of his ministry, and 
early attempt to murder him, 
occasioned his residing there 
but little afterwards, and 
working few miracles among 
them. Luke iv. 16—29. It 
has continued to this day, to 
be a place of some note ; and 
it now contains, according 
to the late P. Fisk, about 
500 houses. Among the 
population are Greeks, Cath- 



olics, Greek Catholics, and 
Maronites. Mr. Fiske was 
hospitably entertained in 
one of their convents. The 
precipice over which the 
people attempted to push our 
Saviour, is still conspicuous. 
Luke iv. 29. 

NAZAR1TE, or Naza- 
rene, a Jew who made a 
vow to observe uncommon 
devotion either for a given 
period or for life. Numb. vi. 

Jesus Christ was in fact, 
what these were in profes- 
sion, consecrated to God, and 
hence is called a Nazarene. 
That Christ should be thus 
consecrated is declared by 
various prophets, though he 
is not mentioned in the Old 
Testament, under that ex- 
press title. Matthew ii. 23. 

NEAP'OLIS, a sea-port 
in Macedonia, Acts xvi. 11, 
the same city which is now 
called Napoli. See She- 

CHEM. 

NEBO, a city 8 miles 
south of Heshbon. Numb, 
xxxii. 38. Isa. xv. 2. It is 
now called Abarim. 

Mount Nebo, where Mo- 
ses died, stood in the lot of 
Reuben. Deut. xxxiv. 1. 

There was also an idol of 
this name, thought by some 
to be the same as Da gem. 
Isa. xlvi. 1. As, however, 
this name is found in the 
composition of many Chal- 
dee words, "such as Nebu- 
chadnezzar, Nabonassar, Na- 



NEB 



149 



N£H 



bopolassar, &c.,it maybe a 
different god. 

NEBUCHADNEZZAR, 
Nebuchadrezzar, or Nabo- 
polassar, the most famed 
king of Babylon. His father 
Nabopolassar having raised 
an immense army to quell a 
revolt of the Syrians, Pheni- 
cians, &c. he was appointed 
to its command, and with it 
nof only subdued those prov- 
inces, but overrun Canaan, 
Moab, Ammon, Assyria, 
Egypt, &c. and made them 
tributary. He carried to 
Babylon, among other prin- 
ces of Judah, Daniel, Ha- 
naniah, Mishael, and Az- 
ariah ; whom he called 
Belteshazzar, Shadrach, Me- 
shacli, and Abednego. These, 
and other young captives, he 
caused to be trained up in all 
the learning of the Chalde- 
ans, that they might serve 
in the court. 2 Kings xxiv. 
Dan. i. He twice afterward 
invaded and chastised Judea. 
2 Chr. xxxvi. Ez. xxv. xxxv. 

About A. M. 3399, his 
father died, and he became 
king of Babylon. In the 
second year of his reign, he 
had a surprising dream, but 
entirely forgot it. All the 
<iiviners being applied to in 
vain, Daniel declared to him 
both the dream and the in- 
terpretation. He was so 
astonished, and yet so con- 
vinced of the truth, that he 
fell on his face before Daniel, 



and acknowledged his God, 
to be the God of gods, and 
Lord of kings. He made 
Daniel chiefof the wise men, 
and governor of the province 
of Babylon ; and made Shad- 
rach, Meshach, and Abed- 
nego, subordinate governors 
in the same place. Dan- 
iel ii. 

NECROMANCER, a con- 
jurer, who pretended to re- 
veal secrets by intercourse 
with the dead. Deuterono- 
my xviii. 11. 

NEHEMIAH, the son of 
Hachaliah, was, perhaps, of 
the royal family of David. 
His being cup-bearer in the 
Persian court, and his suc- 
ceeding Zerubbabel in the 
government of the Jews, 
tends to confirm this opinion. 
Furnished with royal letters 
of authority he went to Je- 
rusalem and spent 12 years 
in labouring for its restora- 
tion. He afterwards return- 
ed again to the Holy City, 
and probably died there. He 
wrote the book in the Old 
Testament which bears his 
name. Nehemiah was not 
a prophet, but a historian; 
and his narrative begins 
about 12 years after that of 
Ezra closes. In his days 
flourished Herodotus and 
Thucydides, the two most 
ancient profane historians 
whose works are extant, and 
Malachi, the Hebrew 
prophet. 



NEW 



150 



NIC 



NEIGHBOUR. (1.) One 
who lives near another. (2.) 
Every man to whom we have 
an opportunity of doing 
good. Matt. xxii. 39. (3.) 
One who pities and relieves 
another in distress. Luke x. 
36. (4.) One who stands 
in need of help. Prov. iii. 
28. Our Saviour reproved 
the Pharisees for using the 
word in a restrained sense, 
and informed them that the 
whole world were their 
neighbours, and that their 
charity should be exercised, 
even to their enemies. Mat. 
v. 43, 44. Luke x. 29—37. 

NETH'INIMS, persons 
who waited on the Lord's 
house, performing inferior 
offices, under the direction 
of the Levites. Ezra ii. 58. 
and viii. 20. They are sup- 
posed to be the descendants 
of the Gibeonites, who im- 
posed on the Hebrew princes, 
and were devoted to labo- 
rious occupations. Josh ix. 
They had a particular place 
in Jerusalem where they 
dwelt, called Ophel. Neh. 
iii. 26. 

NEW TESTAMENT— 
The sacred book of Chris- 
tians, though not to the ex- 
clusion of the Old Testa- 
ment. The books which 
compose the New Testa- 
ment are supposed to have 
been written in the follow- 
ing order : 



A. D. 

38. The Gospel of Matthew written 

in Judea. 
52. 1st and 2d Thess. written from 

Corinth. 
52. Galat. written from Corinth or 

Macedonia. 

56. 1st. Corinth, from Ephesus. 

57. 2d Corinth, from Macedonia, 

58. Romans, written from Corinth. 

61. Ephesians, written from Rome. 
" James, written at Jerusalem. 

62. Philipphns, Colossians and 

Philemon, written from 
Rome. 

63. The Gospel of Luke written in 

Greece. 
" Hebrews, written from Rome. 

64. The Acts of the Apostles, 

written in Greece. 
" 1st Timothy and Titus, written 

in Macedonia. 
" 1st Peter, written from Babylon. 

65. The Gospel of Mark, written 

from Rome. 
" 2d Timothy, written from Rome. 
" 2d Peter, written from Babylon. 
" Jude, where written unknown. 
90. 1st John written from Patmos. 
" 2d and 3d John, from Ephesus. 

96. John, at Ephesus, writes the 

book of Revelation. 

97. John wiites his Gospel at the 

same place. 

NICOLA'ITANS. It is 

not known whether these 
were a sect, or only persons 
of a certain description ; nor 
is it known from whom the 
name is derived. They are 
supposed to have denied the 
real human nature of Cnrist, 
and of course the reality of 
his sufferings. They seem 
to have been singularly 
profligate and impure. Rev. 
ii. 6. It is thought they are 
alluded to in 2 T?et. ii. and 
Jude 7—19. 



N1N 



151 



NIN 



NIGHT. (1.) That time 
when the sun is below our 
horizon. (2.) The time of 
heathenish ignorance and 
profaneness. Rom. xiii. 12. 
(3.) Adversity. Isa. xxi. 12. 
(4.) Death, wherein we are 
laid asleep. John ix. 4, (5.) 
The season in which any 
thing; comes suddenly and 
unexpectedly upon us. 1 
Thess. v. 2. Isa. xv. 1. 
Luke xii. 20. (6.) The 
whole time of our life on 
earth, during which we are 
dark, by reason of ignorance, 
and are exposed to danger 
and sinful stumbling. Rom. 
xiii. 12. 

NIGHT HAWK, the 
strix orientalis, a voracious 
bird of the size of the com- 
mon owl, so bold and dar- 
ing in Syria, as to attack 
even children if exposed by 
night. Lev. xi. 16. Deut. 
xiv. 15, only. 

NINEVEH, a city of 
Assyria. It was the capital 
of that empire till Eshar- 
liaddon conquered Babylon, 
when that city shared the 
royal presence, the court 
being sometimes at one place 
and sometimes at the other. 

It was founded by Ashur, 
the son of Shem, Genesis x. 
11, and became one of the 
largest cities in the world. 
In the 29th year of the rei^rn 
of Josiah, king of Judah, 
Nineveh was utterly destroy - 
e4 by the Medes. It was 



afterward partially, rebuilt, 
but never became consider- 
able. It is now called Mosul, 
and is only famous for being 
the residence of the Patriarch 
of the Nestorians, of which 
sect are most of the Chris- 
tians in those parts.* Mosul 
is on the west side of the 
Tigris, and was anciently 
only an appendage to the 
city, which itself stood on 
the east side, where ruins of 
vast extent have been seen 
by modern travellers. Ac- 
cording to Diodorus Siculus, 
the circumference of Nine- 
veh was 60 miles. Jonah 
was three days in going 
round to proclaim its over- 
throw; 20 miles being as 
much as he could leisurely 
walk in a day. 

The destruction of Nine- 
veh, above mentioned, ful- 



* The Nestorians are the followers 
of Nestorius, Bishop of Constantino- 
ple, who lived early in the oth cen- 
tury. Their distinguishing tenet is, 
that Christ possessed not only two 
natures, but two persons ; the one of 
which was divine, and the other hu- 
man. About A. D. 438 Pherozes, 
the Persian monarch, put this sect in 
possession of ecclesiastical authority. 
They gradually spread into adjacent 
countries, and their spiritual domin- 
ion is to this day very extensive j tak- 
ing in a great part of Asia, and em- 
bracing also part of Arabia, and the 
cuast of Malabar. This sect has al- 
ways refused to enter into the com- 
munion of the Romish Church, and 
has carefully avoided a multitude of 
superstitious practices common to 
other eastern Christians. 



NIT 



152 



NUM 



filled the following prophe- 
cies, to which the reader is 
referred. Jonah iii. Nahum 
ii. and iii. Zephaniah ii. 
13. It is often a matter of 
wonder, how structures so 
vast as were many in Nine- 
veh, especially the walls, 
w T hich were nearly 30 feet 
thick, could be so utterly 
thrown down, that the very 
situation of some ancient 
cities cannot now be clearly 
ascertained. The case is 
explained when we remem- 
ber that the cost and diffi- 
culty of obtaining materials 
for building in the east, has 
made it common, from time 
immemorial, to resort to de- 
serted towns for materials to 
erect new ones. Thus Se- 
leucia was built with the 
ruins of Babylon, and Mosul 
from those of Nineveh. 

NITRE, this word, which 
occurs but twice in the Bi- 
ble, does not mean what we 
now call nitre, or salt petre, 
but is that native salt called 
" natrum," by naturalists. 
The natrum is an earthy 
alkaline salt, found in abun- 
dance on the surface of the 
lake Natron in Egypt, in 
Sindy, an interior province 
of Asia, and many other 
places. It is in all respects 
the same as the Smyrna 
" soap earth." Solomon ev- 
idently means this sub- 
stance, when he compares 
the effect of unseasonable 



mirth upon a man in afflic- 
tion tp the action of vinegar 
on nrtre, Prov. xxv. 20. Vin- 
egar has no effect upon 
what we call nitre, but upon 
this earthy alkali it produces 
violent effervescence. Being 
of a soapy nature, it was 
used to cleanse clothes and 
the skin ; to which is the 
allusion, Jer. ii. 22. 

NO, an Egyptian city, the 
site of which is now un- 
known. Vitringa considers 
it to be the sa-me as Noph, 
which see. Jer. xlvi. 25. 

NOD, a land to which 
Cain withdrew after his 
fratricide. Gen. iv. 16. We 
have no means at present, 
of knowing what country 
this was. Gen. iv. 16. 

NOPH, the ancient Mem- 
phis, near to which are the 
famous pyramids. It seems 
not improbable that these 
pyramids were built by the 
children of Israel, while 
slaves to Pharaoh ; but 
whether they were designed 
as places of worship or sep- 
ulchres for the dead, is un- 
certain. 

NUMBERS, the fourth 
book of the Old Testament. 
So called from its contain- 
ing an account of the num- 
bering of the children of 
Israel. Chapters i. ii. and 
xxvi. It records the history 
of Israel, for 38 years ; that 
is, from the beginning of the 
second month of the second 



OAT 



153 



OFF 



year after their exodus from 
Egypt, to the beginning of 
the eleventh month of the 
fortieth year of their jour- 
neyings. Most of the trans- 
actions which are mention- 
ed, took place in the second 
and thirty -eighth years. 



OAK, a tree of great stat- 
ure and durability. Abra- 
ham pitched his tent, and 
Joshua set up the tabernacle 
beneath an oak, Joshua 
xxiv. 26. Its durability 
made the idolater select it 
as the substance of his god. 
Is. xliv. 14. The British 
Druids held it sacred. It is 
admirable timber for ships, 
and is now chiefly used for 
that purpose. 

OATH, a solemn act, 
wherein we swear by God ; 
or call him to witness the 
truth of what we assert or 
promise, and to curse us in 
time and eternity, if we 
swear what is false or un- 
known to us, or if we do not 
perform what we engage. 
An oath should never be 
taken but in matters of im- 
portance, nor sworn by the 
name of any but the true 
God, as it is an act of solemn 
worship, Joshua xxiii. 7. 
James v. 12. Deut. vi. 13. 



Matt. v. 34, 35. Jer. v. 7 ;— * 
nor irreverently, without 
godly fear and awe of the 
Most High. The multipli- 
cation of oaths, therefore, in 
commerce, and common af- 
fairs, is a great sin. The ir- 
reverent and hurried manner 
in which they are too fre- 
quently administered, has a 
great tendency to increase 
perjury. 

The lawfulness of solemn- 
ly taking our oath to the 
truth, is certified by scrip- 
ture example, Matt. xxvi. 
63,64. Rom.i.9. 2 Cor. 
xi. 11, and 31. Ps. i. 20. 
Heb. vi. 13, 17 — and by in- 
timation that this method 
may be restored to for the 
settlement of strife, Heb. vi. 
16. Few sins are so hein- 
ous as profane swearing. It 
has neither the force of bod- 
ily appetite, nor love of 
gain, for its excuse, while it 
betrays the grossest con- 
tempt of God, and tends to 
destroy all certainty of testi- 
mony. Matt. v. 34, 

OBADIAH is thought to 
have lived about the time 
that Jerusalem was sacked 
by Nebuchadnezzar. He 
prophesied of the destruc- 
tion of Edom, and the future 
prosperity of Zion. 

OFFERING, a sacrifice; 
any thing offered or present- 
ed in worship. The He- 
brews had several kinds of 
offerings, which were all 



OFF 



154 



OFF 



intended to exhibit and en 
force the great truths of 
religion. 

The Burnt-Offerings 
were presented to God, as 
the Maker, Preserver, and 
Lord of the universe, enti- 
tled to all adoration and hon- 
our. The " whole burnt-of- 
ferings," as their name im- 
ports, were all burnt except 
the skin. They signified to 
the people, that the whole 
man, in whose stead they 
were offered, was to be en- 
tirely devoted to God, with- 
out reserve ; that he himself 
had deserved to be utterly 
consumed; that the suffer- 
ings of the Messiah, as the 
sinner's substitute, would be 
extremely great ; and that 
all fleshly lusts, and selfish- 
ness of principle, are to be 
completely mortified by the 
worshippers of Jehovah. 

The Sin-Offering and 
the Trespass-Offering, 
are described in Lev. iv. and 
v. ; but the exact difference 
between the transgressions 
to which they have refer- 
ence is very obscure. It 
seems probable, from a close 
examination of these chap- 
ters, that the sin-offering 
was for violation of prohib- 
itory statutes ; and the tres- 
pass-offering was for neglect 
of imperative statutes. It 
was not so entirely consum- 
ed by fire as the burnt-offer- 
ing. (Compare Lev. i. 9 } 



and ch. vii. 8, with ch. vK 
25, 26, and 29.) The victim 
was intended as an atone- 
ment for iniquity; it was 
brought to the door of the 
tabernacle, — the offender put 
his hand upon its head, con- 
fessed his sins, and supplica- 
ted pardon, saying, " I be- 
seech thee, O Lord ; I have 
sinned, I have trespassed, I 
have rebelled; — but now I 
repent, and let this," (that 
is, his sacrifice) " be my ex- 
piation." The animal was 
then slain, and reconcilia- 
tion enjoyed with God. It 
is thus we confess our sins, 
in an humble dependence 
upon the atonement of Jesus 
Christ, and look for salva- 
tion through his precious 
blood. Restitution, so oftea 
mentioned in Scripture, 
formed an indispensable part 
of the duty of him that pre- 
sented these offerings. If 
he held his neighbour's 
property unjustly, he not 
only now restored it, but 
added a fifth part. Num. v. 
5—8. Exo. xxii. 3—8. 

The Peace-Offerings 
and Thank-Offerings had 
respect to God, as reconcil- 
ed to us, and as the Giver of 
all our possessions, — they 
were free-will or voluntary 
oblations, either in return 
for blessings received, or in 
supplication for mercies de- 
sired. The blood, &c. of 
these victims was offered up 



OIL 



155 



OLI 



by the priest^ and the re- 
mainder returned to the 
worshipper, who added to 
it such other things as he 
chose, and made a feast, to 
which widows, orphans, 
slaves, and Levites, were 
invited. Jesus Christ is our 
Peace-Offering, and it is for 
him, and by him, that we 
render thanksgiving unto 
the Father. 

The Wave-Offerings 
were shaken or tossed to 
and fro, towards the several 
parts of the world, to denote 
God's universal dominion 
and the extent of the Re- 
deemer's sacrifice. Lev. viii. 

u The law was a shadow 
of good things to come ; but 
the body is of Christ." Col. 
ii. 17; and Heb. x. 1. Many 
of the Hebrews, it is proba- 
ble, placed a carnal depen- 
dence on ceremonial offer- 
ings, and did not entirely 
appreciate their symbolical 
meaning. But this error is 
decidedly condemned in 
many places. Ps. 1.8 — 23. 
xl. 6, 9. Isa, i. 11— 20. Hos. 
vi. 6. Mic. vi. G — 8, &c. 

OIL; Ointment — is now 
extracted from the fat of 
fishes, from flaxseed, and a 
multitude of other substan- 
ces. Oil obtained from 
olives, that is, such as we 
now call siceet oil, was 
abundant in the Holy Land. 
Deut. xxxii. 13. Bread dip- 
ped in oil was reckoned a 



delicate repast. An infusion 
of some flowers made it very 
fragrant for anointing. Matt, 
xxvi. 7. Ps. xcii. 10. The 
Hebrews used olive oil in 
their meat-offerings, in their 
sacred lamps, and in their 
common use ; but there was 
an oil very precious and 
sacred, compounded with 
cinnamon, calamus, cassia, 
and myrrh, which was used 
in the anointing of the 
priests, the tabernacle and 
furniture. None of it was 
to be applied to any other 
use ; nor was any to be made 
like it exceptfor sacred uses. 

OL'IVET or Mount of 
Olives, stood about six 
hundred and twenty-five 
paces east of Jerusalem, from, 
which it was separated by 
the valley of Jehoshaphat 
and brook Kidron. 

OLIVE, a tree very com- 
mon in Judea. There are 
two kinds, the wild and the 
cultivated; the former be- 
ing smaller and poorer than 
the latter. It is the chief 
resource of Orientals for oil, 
an article they use in great 
abundance', both for food 
and ointment, as well a3 
light. Its oil was also con- 
sidered good for wounds, 
bruises, &c. The fruit, 
which is about the size of a 
small plum, is very whole- 
some and nourishing. 

Capt. Cook found that 
green branches, carried in 



ON 



156 



ONY 



the hands, or stack in the 
ground, were the emblems 
of peace, universally em- 
ployed and understood by 
the numerous and untutor- 
ed inhabitants of the South 
Sea islands. The origin of 
a custom, thus received, and 
religiously observed, by na- 
tions dwelling on opposite 
sides of the globe, who nev- 
er had the smallest inter- 
course with one another, 
must be sought for near the 
beginning of time, when the 
inhabitants of our earth, 
forming but one family, at- 
tached the most pleasing 
recollections to the bring- 
ing of an olive branch. 
Gen. viii. 11. A reference 
to God's sign of mercy to 
Noah, may be traced also in 
the derivation of the Greek 
word EXaios mercy, from 
EXccim, an olive, 

ON, a city of Egypt, call- 
ed Heliopolis by the Sep- 
tuagint version, Gen. xli. 
45, and by Herodotus, who 
says the inhabitants were 
" the wisest of the Egyp- 
tians." The father-in-law 
of Joseph, was High Priest 
of On. This was the city 
of Moses, according to Be- 
rosus, and accounts for his 
being " learned in all the 
wisdom of the Egyptians." 
Acts vii. 22. Heliopolis was 
the Greek translation of 
Beth-shemesh, ts the house 



or city of the sun," and is 
called " Beth-shemesh in 
the land of Egypt," (Jer. 
xliii. 13,) to distinguish it 
from a place of the same 
name in Canaan. Joshua 
xix. 38. 

ONES'IMUS, a slave of 
Philemon, a wealthy Chris- 
tian in Colosse. For some 
unknown reason, he ab- 
sconded from his master. 
Coming to Rome, he was 
converted to Christianity 
by Paul, and being a man of 
intelligence and respecta- 
bility, as oriental servants 
often were, he proved very 
useful to Paul during his 
imprisonment. He then 
returned to his place with 
Paul's Epistle to Philemon ; 
which see. 

ONESIPH'ORUS, an E- 
phesian convert of some dis- 
tinction, who being at 
Rome during Paul's impris- 
onment, openly befriended 
him, and supplied his wants, 
when many of his friends 
were afraid to do so. 2 
Tim. i. 16. and iv. 19. 

ON'YCHA, a fragrant 
gum, probably the bdellium, 
which is a gum, smooth and 
shining like a man's nail, 
which the Greeks call onyx, 
and is by some authors call- 
ed u bdella onyx" to distin- 
guish it from other kinds. 
The word occurs in Ex. 
xxx. 34, only. 

O'NYX, a precious stone. 



ORA 



157 



OST 



What it was is very uncer 
tain ; probably a variety of 
the agate, or the chalce- 
dony. 

OPH1R, the son of Jok- 
tan. Whether he gave 
name to the country famous 
for gold, or where that 
country was, we can hard- 
ly determine. It is certain 
that its gold was renowned 
even in the time of Job, Ch. 
xxii. 24, xxviii. 16; and 
that from the time of David 
to the time of Jehoshaphat, 
the Hebrews traded with it, 
and that Uzziah revived this 
trade when he made himself 
master of Elath, a noted port 
on the Red Sea. In Solo- 
mon's time, the Hebrew 
fleet took up three years in 
their voyage to Ophir y and 
brought home gold, apes, 
peacocks, spices, ivory, eb- 
ony, and almug-trees. 1 
Kings ix. 28. x. 11. xxii. 48. 
2Chron. ix. 10. 

ORACLE, something de- 
livered by supernatural wis- 
dom. The " most holy 
place," in the temple was 
called the oracle, because 
there the priest inquired of 
God. 1 Kings vi. 5—19. 
The Scriptures are the or- 
acles of God, which Chris- 
tians ought to consult at all 
times ; especially in matters 
of difficulty, and in the 
great affairs relating to their 
souls and another life. Heb. 
v. 12. Acts vii. 38. 



ORGAN, a wind instru- 
ment of music, invented by 
Jubal, the sixth in descent 
from Cain ; but Jubal's was 
probably very different from 
ours, which are composed 
of various pipes, and some 
of them are 30 or 40 feet 
long. The present kind we 
do not know to be more 
than 800 years old. Gen. 
iv. 21. Ps. cl. 4. 

ORPON, a constellation 
consisting of a great num- 
ber of stars, which appears 
to us in November. 

O'SEE, one of the proph- 
ets, called in the Old Tes- 
tament Rosea. Rom. ix. 
25. 

OSPRAY, the black ea- 
gle. Bruce has probably 
described this bird under 
the name JV'issa Tokoor. It 
occurs in Lev. xi. 13, and 
Deut. xiv. 12, only. 

OSSIFRAGE, the vul- 
ture, Lev. xi. 13. Deut. xiv. 
12. only. 

OSTRICH, the largest of 
all fowls, and apparently the 
connecting link between 
birds and quadrupeds. It is 
often 7 or 8 feet in height, 
and generally weighs from 
60 to 80 pounds. Its eggs, 
of which it lays 30 or 40 in 
a season, are as large as a 
child's head, and are left in 
the sand to be hatched by 
the sun. Job xxxix. 14, lb. 
Ostriches are found in the 
desert of Arabia, where they 



OVE 



158 



PAL 



live chiefly on vegetables, 
and lead a social inoffensive 
life. In swiftness they far 
exceed the horse, Job 
xxxix. 18, and though taken 
by men on horseback, it is 
by stratagem. The Arabs 
often ride upon them. The 
ostrich is so timid, that at 
any alarm it will fly and 
leave its eggs, or even its 
young ones; which explains 
Lam. iv. 3. It is there fore- 
told, that the distress of the 
Jews should be so great, 
that parents would suffer 
their children to perish, be- 
ing engrossed with anxiety 
to preserve themselves. It is 
said, Job xxxix. 16, 17, <e she 
is hardened against her 
young ones, as though they 
were not hers," and that she 
is " deprived of understand- 
ing;" and such is remarka- 
bly the fact. In flight it 
sometimes hides its head ; 
and thinking itself safe 
when it cannot see its pur- 
suer, is easily taken. 

OUCHES, sockets for the 
gems of the High Priest's 
breast-plate. Ex. xxxix. 6. 
The solderings of the rings 
at the corners seem also to 
be so called. Exo. xxxix. 
16. 

OVEN, a place for baking 
food. Some were dug in the 
ground. Others were simi- 
lar to American ovens. Some 
were like a pitcher ; the fire 
being put inside, and the 



dou<rh spread thin over the 
outside, which was baked in 
a few minutes. Fuel being 
scarce, as it is in all eastern 
countries, dried cow-dung, 
stubble, stalks offlowers, and 
grass, were used. Matt, 
vi. 30. 

OWL, a bird of night, of 
the rapacious kind, very 
various in size and colour, 
and found chiefly in desert 
solitudes, and ruined houses, 
jsaiah xiii. 21. Its voice 
is excessively disagreeable 
and melancholy. Job xxx. 
29. Psalm cii. 6. Wicked 
men are compared to owls, 
for that they hate the light. 
Isaiah xliii. 20. 



PALM-TREE, a tree re- 
markable for loftiness, 
straightness, and produc- 
tiveness, and -hence made 
an emblem in Scripture of 
uprightness, fruitfulness and 
victory. The fruit is the 
date, very sweet and nour- 
ishing, and a large portion 
of the inhabitants of Egypt, 
Arabia and Persia, subsist 
almost entirely upon it. 
Camels are fond of the 
stone. This fruit is of 
the size of an olive. Palm 
branches were signals of 



PAL 



159 



PAN 



joy, and therefore'! the bless- 
ed in heaven are represent- 
ed as bearing them. Rev. 
vii. 9. The leaves are six 
or eight feet long, and pro- 
portionably broad when 
spread out, and are used to 
cover houses and make 
couches, baskets, bags, fen- 
ces, hats, &c. From the 
fibre of the branches are 
made thread, ropes, rigging, 
&c. Indeed " the natives, 
(says Gibbon,) celebrate 
either in prose or verse, 
three hundred and sixty 
uses to which the trunk, 
branches, leaves, juice, and 
fruit, are applied." 

The palm-tree attains full 
maturity in thirty years 
from planting the seed, and 
continues in full strength 
seventy or eighty years, 
bearing annually, three or 
four hundred pounds of 
dates ; and finally dies at 
about two hundred years 
old. From its sap, palm 
wine is made, called by the 
natives Araky. It is a bev- 
erage which easily intoxi- 
cates, and is thought by 
Bishop Lowth to be the 
u strong drink," mentioned 
in Isaiah v. 11, and xxiv. 
9. 

From that species of palm 
tree, called Landan, grow- 
ing wild in various parts of 
the East, the common sago 
is procured. It forms a nu- 
tritious diet for the natives, 



who eat it as we do rice. 
This kind of palm bears no 
fruit, but the sort of cabbage 
on the top, common to all 
palms. The sago is obtain- 
ed from the sap and pith of 
the tree. 

PALMER-WORM, a sort 
of caterpillar of great vorac- 
ity. Bochart contends a- 
gainst the majority of learn- 
ed men, that it is a species 
of the locust. It occurs only 
in Joel i. 4. ii. 25. Amos 
iv. 9. 



PAMPHYLIA. 



a prov- 



ince of Asia Minor, having 
the Mediterranean on the 
south, Lycia on the west, 
Pisidia on the north, and 
Cilicia on the east. Attalia 
and Perga were its princi- 
pal cities. That part of the 
Mediterranean lying on the 
south of it, was called the 
Sea of Pamphylia, Acts ii. 
10. xiii. 13, &c. This and 
the adjacent provinces are 
now called the Levant. 

PANNAG, probably the 
valua 1 ie plant which Dio- 
scorides and Pliny de- 
scribe by the name of 
" Panax," from which a 
composition was made ser- 
viceable in many diseases ; 
whence panacea became a 
name for an universal med- 
icine. It is said to resemble 
millet, and to have been 
used as food. Ezek. xxvii. 
17. 



PAP 



160 



PAR 



PAPER was invented in 
very early times. 2 John 
12. It derives its name from 
the papyrus, or paper reed, 
a species of bulrushes, grow- 
ing on the banks of the 
Nile, Isaiah xix. 7. The 
stalk is triangular, rising to 
the height of eight or nine 
feet, besides several feet un- 
der the water, and termina- 
ting at the top in a crown of 
small filaments resembling 
the thistle. Of these the 
Egyptians made baskets, 
shoes, cloths, and small 
boats, Exodus ii. 3. Isaiah 
xviii. 2. 'To make paper, 
they peeled off the different 
skins or films of the plant, 
which succeed each other 
like those of an onion. 
These they laid on a table, 
like the shingles of a roof, 
to the intended length and 
breadth of the paper, and 
laid over them a thin paste ; 
above which they spread a 
cross layer of other films or 
leaves, and then dried it in 
the sun. The films nearest 
the heart of the plant, made 
the finest paper. When 
Ptolemy, king of Egypt, 
denied Attalus, king of Per- 
gamus, this kind of paper, 
for writing his library, he 
invented, or greatly improv- 
ed the manufacture of parch- 
ment. After which, books 
of note were written on 
parchment, for almost 1300 
}^ears. The parchments 



that Paul left at Troas, and 
ordered Timothy to bring 
with him, were probably 
either the original draughts 
of some of his epistles, or a 
noted copy of the Old Tes- 
tament^ Tim. iv. 13. For 
about 550 years, paper made 
of linen rags has been in 
use. Latterly cotton rags, 
and sometimes even straw, 
and other substances, have 
been made into paper. 

PA'PHOS, a commercial 
city of Cyprus, visited by 
Paul, Acts xiii. 6. Twenty- 
five or thirty poor huts are 
all that remain of this once 
metropolitan city. This 
miserable village is now 
called Baffa. 

PARABLE, a short 
weighty sentence, or a si- 
militude, used to convey 
instruction to ignorant, prej- 
udiced, or inattentive hear- 
ers. The ancients used par- 
ables very much. 

To understand parables, 
it is proper to observe, (1.) 
It is not necessary that the 
representation of natural 
things in a parable should 
be strictly matter of fact, 
because the design is not to 
inform concerning these, 
but concerning some more 
momentous truth ; nor is it 
necessary that all the actions 
in a parable be strictly just. 
2 Sain. xiv. Luke xvi. I — 8. 
(2,) We must chiefly attend 
to the scope of the parable, 




THE EGYPTIAN PAPER REED. 







PAR 



163 



PAR 



which is to be gathered 
from its inspired explica- 
tion, if any ; or from ihe 
introduction to it, or the 
conclusion of it. (3.) Hence 
it follows, that we are not 
to expect that every circum- 
stance in the parable should 
be answered by something 
in the explication ; for sev- 
eral circumstances may' be 
added for the sake of deco- 
rum, or mere allusion to that 
whence the figure of the 
parable is taken. (4.) Yet 
a parable may inform us of 
several truths beside the 
scope of it. 

The following table, ac- 
cording to Newcome's Har- 
mony, shows the order in 
which those of Christ were 
delivered : 

Blind leading the blind, Lukevi. 39. 
House founded on a rock,Mat.vii. 24. 
The two debtors, Lukevii. 41. 

Expelled devil returning, Mat. xii.43. 
The rich fool, Luke xii. 16. 

The watchful servants, " xii. 38. 
The barren fig-tree, " xiii. 6. 

The sower, Matt. xiii. 3. 

The wheat and tares, " xiii. 24. 

The growth of the seed, Mark iv. 26. 
The mustard seed, Matt. xiii. 31. 
The leaven, " « 33. 

Hidden treasure, " xiii. 44. 

Pearl of great price, '* u 45. 
The net, « « 47. 

Good householder, " " 52. 

New piece to the garment,Luke v. 36. 
New wine in old bottles, " " 37. 
The lost sheep, Matt, xviii. 11. 

Unmerciful Servant, " « 23. 

Shepherd and Sheep, John x. 11. 
Good Samaritan, Luke x. 30. 

The ambitious guests, " xiv. 7. 

The neglected invitations, " " 16. 
BuildiDg a tower, « " 28. 



King going to war, Luke xiv. 31 . 

The lost piece of silver, " xv. 8. 
The prodigal son, " " 11. 

The unjust steward, u xvi. 1* 

Rich man and Lazarus, " " 19. 
The master and servant, " xvii. 7. 
The unjust judge, "xviii. 3. 

Pharisee and Publican, " " 9. 
Labourers in Vineyard, Matt. xx. 1 . 
The ten pounds, Luke xix SI. 

The two sons, Matt. xxi. 23. 

Wicked husbandmen, " xxi. 33. 
Wedding garment, " xxii. 1. 

Fig-tree putting forth, "f xxiv. 32. 
The master's return, " " 44. 
The Ten Virgins, " xxv. 1. 

The Talents, " U 14. 



The true Vine, 



John xv. 1. 



PARADISE, the abode 
of glorified spirits, Luke 
xxiii. 44. 2 Cor. xii. 4. 
Rev. xxvii. See Eden. 

PARAN formed a part of 
Arabia Petrea. Deuteronomy 
xxxiii. 2. 

PARTHIA, an ancient 
empire, south of the Cau- 
casus, and east of the Tigris, 
which subsisted 400 years. 
The natives were remarka- 
ble for continuing to fight 
even when they were oblig- 
ed to retreat. In the latter 
periods of the Roman repub- 
lic they were a powerful 
people. It now forms a part 
of Persia. Doubtless the 
Jews from Parthia, who 
heard Peter's sermon, car- 
ried home the knowledge of 
the Christian faith ; but for 
many ages past, there has 
been but little Christianity 
here. Acts ii. 9. 

PARTITION, a separa- 
tion between the parts of a 



PAS 



164 



PAT 



thing. The peculiar cere- 
monies of the Jews, were a 
" wall of partition" between 
them and the Gentiles. Je- 
sus did them away, and now 
the wall of separation is 
abolished. Ephesians ii. 
14—16. 

PARTRIDGE, this bird 
is mentioned but twice in 
Scripture. In 1 Sam. xxvi. 
20, David compares himself 
to it, hunted by his enemy. 
The prophet speaks of u the 
partridge that sitteth on eggs 
and hatcheth them not" as 
being like the man who 
getteth riches, and not hy 
right. As the bird makes 
no other nest than a hallow 
on the ground, her eggs are 
very often destroyed by 
rains or the feet of animals. 
Several of them will lay in 
the same nest, so that the 
sitting hen cannot cover 
them all, and many are 
spoiled. Fifty or sixty eggs 
are often found in one nest. 
Jer. xvii. 11. 

PASSION, any strong or 
violent emotion of the mind ; 
desire for, or aversion to a 
thing, as anger, love, joy, 
&c. ; the last sufferings of 
the Redeemer of the world. 

PASSOVER, a feast of 
the Jews, in commemora- 
tion of the time when God, 
smiting the first-born of the 
Egyptians, passed over the 
habitations of the Hebrews, 
Ex, xii. The lamb which 



was slain, called the Pascal 
Lamb, was a type of Christ, 
the Lamb of God, slain 
from the foundation of the 
world, Rev. xiii. 8. And as 
the destroying angel, pass- 
ed over the houses of the 
Hebrews, which were mark- 
ed with the blood of the 
Pascal Lamb ; so the wrath 
of God passes over those, 
whose souls are sprinkled 
with the. blood of Christ. 
1 Cor. v. 7. Heb. xii. 24. 

PAT'ARA, a sea-port of 
Lycia. Here was a famous 
temple of Apollo ; and ora- 
cles, equalled in repute to 
those of Delphos, were giv- 
en for six months of the 
year. Paul touched here in 
his way from Macedonia 
to Jerusalem. Acts xxi. 1. 
We find no traces of Chris- 
tianity here till the fourth 
century, nor after the ninth, 
when the Saracens wasted 
the country, 

PATH. See Way. 

PATHROS, a city or can- 
ton of Egypt. It is proba- 
bly the Phaturis of Pliny. 
It had its name from Path- 
rusim, the fifth son of Miz- 
raim, who built or peopled 
it. Gen. x. 14. 

PATIENCE, that noble 
passion or power of the 
mind, whereby a person is 
capable of enduring the dif- 
ficulties, afflictions, and dis- 
appointments that happen 
in this life ; that grace 



PAT 



165 



PAU 



which enables us patiently 
and readily to submit to the 
will of God under all cir- 
cumstances ; a humble and 
submissive waiting for, and 
expectation of eternal life, 
and the accomplishment of 
God's promises; that long 
suffering of God, which, de- 
lays the punishment of sin- 
ners, and allows them space 
for repentance. Matt, xviii. 
26—29. Rom. ii. 4. It is a 
virtue, which, though much 
overlooked, and reckoned of 
inferior grade, is, however, 
one of the noblest attain- 
ments of the Christian. 

PATMOS, a poor rocky 
island in the Grecian Archi- 
pelago, about 25 miles in 
circumference. To this isl- 
and John was banished by 
Domitian. A. D. 94, and 
here he received his Revela- 
tions, which, however, were 
not published till his return 
to Ephesus. The chieftown 
is in the centre of the island, 
five thousand feet above the 
level of the sea, and con- 
tains 200 houses, and a Cath- 
olic convent. The present 
name of the island is Patmol, 
or Pamosa. 

PATRIARCH, a venera- 
ble man with a large poster- 
ity. The word is chiefly 
applied to those who lived 
before Moses, Acts vii. 8, 
and hence we speak of " the 
patriarchal age." 



The following is a list of 

the patriarchs, with the 
length of their lives. 

Adam, who lived 930 year*, 

Seth, " " 912 « 

Enos, " " 905 " 

Cainan, " " 910 " 

Mahalaleel, « " 895 « 

Jared, " " 962 " 

Enoch, » « 365 " 

Methuselah," " 969 « 

Lamech, " « 777 » 

Noah, " " 950 « 

Shem, « " 600 " 

Arphaxad, " " 438 



Eber, 



« « 464 « 



Peleg, " " 239 « 

Eeu, " " 239 « 

Serug, " " 230 » 

Nahor, " « 148 « 

Terah, « " 205 " 

Abraham, " « 175 « 

Isaac, " " 180 « 

" 147 « 



PAUL was of the tribe of 
Benjamin, born in Tarsus, 
which, as it was a free city 
of Rome, gave him the hon- 
our and advantage of a Ro- 
man, though both of his 
parents were Jews. His 
name at first was Saul. He 
was sent to Jerusalem for 
his education, and became 
a very learned and famous 
Pharisee. He was not con- 
verted till after our Sa- 
viour's death, which makes 
him speak of himself as 
" born out of due time," 
and seems to have been 
raised up to take the place 
of Judas. His wonderful 
labqurs and success are re- 
corded in the Acts of the 



PEA 



166 



PEA 



Apostles. He was at last 
feeheaded by Nero at Rome. 
The following is the order 
and date of his Epistles, 
as given by Bishop Pearson, 



A. D 


. 52, 


the 


1 Ep. to the Thess. 


do. 


52, 


the 


2 do. do. 


do. 


57, 


the 


1 do. Corinthians. 


do. 


do. 


the 


do. Galatians* 


do. 


do. 


the 


2 do. Corinthians. 


do. 


do. 


the 


do. Romans. 


do. 


62. 


the 


do, Ephesians. 


do. 


do. 


the 


do. Philippines. 


do. 


do. 


the 


do. Coiossians. 


do. 


do. 


the 


do. Philemon. 


do. 


63, 


the 


do. Hebrews. 


do. 


65. 


the 


1 do. Timothy. 


do. 


do. 


the 


do. Titus. 


do. 


67, 


the 


2 do. Timothy. 



Some chronologists have 
assigned a little different 
date to some of these. The 
computations adopted by 
Horne will be found under 
New Testament. 

PEACOCK, a beautiful 
bird, not known in Pales- 
tine, till imported by Solo- 
mon, 1 Kings x. 22. Its 
native country seems to be 
Persia and India. When 
Alexander reached the river 
Indus, he was so charmed 
at the sight of these birds 
that he forbade them to be 
killed, under a severe penal- 
ty ; and when Hortensius 
first killed one for supper 
at Rome, he was tried for 
the offence. 

PEARL, a hard, white 
shining substance, found in 
some shell-fishes. The mat- 
ter proper to enlarge the 



shell, bursting from the ves- 
sels that convey it to the 
outside, forms into a pearl. 
Common oysters, the pinna- 
marina, and several other 
fish, form pearls ; but the 
proper pearl oyster pro- 
duces the best. The chief 
fisheries for pearl, are at 
Bahrein, in the Persian 
Gulf, and near the isle of 
Ceylon, in the East Indies. 
The next to these are the 
pearl fisheries in the gulf of 
Mexico. The beautiful in- 
side of the shell of the pearl 
oyster is called (i mother of 
pearl.''' In 50 years pearls 
generally lose their beauty ; 
and in 100 they are scarcely 
worth any thing. Cleopatra 
had a pearl valued at 80,000 
pounds sterling. The Per- 
sian emperor had one worth 
110,000 pounds sterling; 
and Philip II. of Spain, had 
one as laro-e as a pigeon's 



egg, 



and valued at 144,000 
ducats. What our ladies 
wear in their necklaces are 
ordinarily false pearls, made 
of fish-scales bruised, and 
enclosed in glass. What is 
very excellent, is likened to 
pearls; how precious ! how 
hard to be come at in a 
proper manner! how truly 
ornamental ! and how apt 
are men to counterfeit them! 
Matt. xiii. 46. Rev. xxi. 21, 
22. To " cast pearls before 
swine," is to preach the 
gospel to persecutors; ap- 



PEL 



167 



PEN 



ply the promises and privi- 
leges proper to saints, to 
men really wicked ; to dis- 
pense sacraments to persons 
notoriously profane ; or to 
administer reproofs to ob- 
stinate scoffers. Matthew 
vii. 6. 

PELEG, whose name 
signifies division, was born 
one hundred years after the 
flood, and so named because 
in his days the earth was 
divided into nations, incon- 
sequence of the confusion of 
tongues at the tower of Ba- 
bel. Gen. x 25. 

PELICAN, an aquatic 
bird, somewhat larger than 
the common goose. Its 
colour is nearly white, the 
neck yellowish, and the 
back dark brown. It has a 
long crooked beak, and the 
forepart of the head towards 
the throat naked. Pelicans 
have a bag at their throat, 
nearly ns capacious as a peck 
measure, into which they 
gather fishes, &c. for them- 
selves and for their young, 
of whom they are extremely 
careful. Its feeding its 
young from the bag on its 
breast, has perhaps been the 
origin of the fable of its giv- 
ing them its own blood ; and 
thus caused it to be the em- 
blem of paternal, as the stork 
is of filial affection. This 
bird is very retired in its 
habits, sitting for whole days 
alone among rocks and soli- 



tudes. Its voice is plaintive 
and disagreeable. Hence 
David compares himself in 
his distress to the pelican, 
Ps. cii. 6. 

PEN, an instrument fbr 
writing. Anciently, when 
tablets of wax, &c. were 
used, the pen was generally 
made of reed. John in his 
3d Epistle, verse 13, says, 
" I have many things to 
write unto thee, but not 
with pen, (KxXotp.%, cala- 
mus,) and ink." The Eng- 
lish word pen, comes from 
the Latin penna, a feather ; 
but the use of quills is a 
modern invention ; the first 
authentic testimony of their 
being used as pens, is in Isi- 
dorou.s, who died. A. D. 
636. 

PENNY, a Roman coin, 
equal to about thirteen 
cents. It was the common 
price of a day's work. In 
warm countries the fruits of 
the earth are produced in 
great abundance, and the 
inhabitants require little 
clothing ; so that labour is 
very cheap. Matt. xx. 2 — 13. 

PENTECOST, a feast of 
the Jews, on the 50th day 
after the Passover, called 
the feast ofweeks, Ex. xxxiv. 
22, because it was celebra- 
ted after the seven weeks of 
harvest, and was a solemn 
thanksgiving for the harvest, 
and a grateful commemora- 
tion of their being delivered 



PER 



168 



PER 



from Egyptian servitude, 
and enjoying their property, 
by reaping the fruits of their 
labours. Lev. xxiii. 10, 
11, &c. 

PERDITION; utter ruin, 
eternal death. The son of 
perdition, means Judas Is- 
cariot. Antichrist is also 
called by this epithet. 2 
Thes. ii. 3, 4. 

PERFECT, complete, 
without blemish or defect. 
It is applied, (1.) To God, 
who is absolutely perfect, 
Matt. v. 48. (2.) To that 
man who has risen to the 
measure of his stature in 
Christ, Col. i. 28. (3.) To 
some who are innocent in 
comparison of others, Job 
viii. 20. (4.) To one who is 
sincere in heart, and un- 
blamable in life, Gen. vi. 9. 
(5.) To him who imitates 
God in doing good to the 
unworthy. Matt. v. 48. 
(6.) To such as have a good 
degree of understanding, 1 
Cor. ii. 6. (7.) To inani- 
mate things, as weights, 
measures, &c. Deuteron- 
omy xxv. 15. 

PERFUME, an agreeable 
smell. In the East, per- 
fumes were used to testify 
great respect, Dan. ii. 46. 
The Hebrews had two sa- 
cred perfumes, one of in- 
cense, and the other an oil. 
Ex. xxx. 23— 38. They were 
addicted to the perfuming 
of dead bodies, clothes, beds, 



&c. Prov. vii. 17. Ps. xlv* 
8. Song iii. 6. 

PERGA, a city of Pam- 
phylia, on the river Castrus, 
near to which, on an emi- 
nence, stood a temple of 
Diana. It was famed for the 
birth of Apollonius, the re- 
nowned geometrician. Here 
Paul and Barnabas preach- 
ed, Acts xiii. 14. xiv. 25; 
and to the end of the eighth 
century we find a Christian 
church here. It is at present 
a place of little importance. 
There was another Perga in 
Epirus. 

PERGAMOS,the ancient 
metropolis of Mysia, and 
the residence of the Attalian 
kings, stands on a rich and 
spacious plain, near the 
banks of the Caicus. It was 
famous for its extent and 
grandeur — for a temple to 
Esculapius — for a library of 
200,000 volumes, which was 
removed to Egypt by Cleo- 
patra, and for its being the 
birth-place of the celebrated 
Galen. Parchment was in- 
vented here, and received 
its name from the place. 
The Christian church here 
soon degenerated, and tol- 
erated fornication; but ap- 
pears to have been reformed 
by John's letter. Rev. ii. 
For 800 years afterward it 
was a considerable church, 
A Greek and Armenian 
church exist here at the 
present day, Of the popu- 



PER 



169 



PER 



lation, now estimated at 
30,000 persons, there are 
300 Armenian Christians, 
1,500 Greeks, and a syna- 
gogue of 100 Jews* The 
remainder are Turks. The 
streets are wide and clean, 
for an eastern city. Its 
present name is Begamo. 

PER1ZZ1TES, one ofthe 
devoted nations of Canaan. 
They do not appear to have 
been fully extirpated. Sol- 
omon exacted tribute of 
them. 2 Chr. viii. 7. So 
late as the days of Ezra we 
find them intermarried with 
the Jews. Ez. ix. 1. ■ 

PERSECUTION, unjust 
vexation and injury on ac- 
count of religious principles 
or modes of worship, Acts 
viii. 1, and 13, 50. Rom. viii. 
35. Gal. vi. 12. It is in 
some degree the lot of all the 
truly pious, therefore while 
the Saviour promises all 
necessary good to his follow- 
ers, he forewarns them that 
persecution will be added, 
Mark x. 30. 2 Tim. iii. 12. 
The dreadful practice began 
in the first human family, 
and has never ceased. 

The form in which perse- 
cution ordinarily shows it- 
self, is in hard words, un- 
charitable censures, and 
underhand opposition. When 
however a time of persecu- 
tion is spoken of, it means 
when men are dragged be- 
fore tribunals, banished, im- 
P 



prisoned, fined, and killed 
for their religion. There 
were ten general and dread- 
ful persecutions previous to 
A. D. 313. Since the Ro- 
man Catholic church has 
gained power, she has al- 
ways been prone to persecu- 
tion. The Inquisition was 
established for this very per- 
pose, and continues to this 
day. All Europe has been 
deluged with Protestant 
blood; and hundreds of thou- 
sands of men, women and 
children, have been butch- 
ered with the most exquisite 
cruelty. Persecution is di- 
rectly contrary to the Gos- 
pel. 1 Cor. iv. 12. Matt. v. 
43—45. 

PERSEVERANCE, con- 
tinuance in any design, 
state, or opinion, Eph. vi. 18. 
Caivinists are of opinion 
that all who are truly born 
ofthe Spirit, will by Divine 
grace persevere to the end. 
Arminians maintain that 
real christians may fall from 
grace, and be at last eternally 
lost. Job xvii. 9. Ps.xciv. 
14, and exxv. Jer. xxxii. 
40. John x. 28, and 17, 12, 
1 Cor. i. 8, 9. 1 Pet. i. 5. 

PERSIA, a country in 
Asia, than which none, per- 
haps, has been more various 
in its fluctuations of extent 
and glory. Its most ancient 
name was Elam. In the 
book of Daniel it is called 
Pares. It is bounded north 



PET 



170 



PHA 



by Russia and independent 
*f artary ; east by the Mogul 
empire ; south by the Ara- 
bian Sea and Persian Gulf; 
west by Georgia, Armenia, 
and Arabia. When Cyrus 
conquered Babylon, the 
Persian monarchy swallow- 
ed up that of Chaldea. Dan. 
vii. 3 — 5. Persia was after- 
ward conquered by Alexan- 
der, Dan. vii. 6. It was 
subsequently a part of Par-. 
thia, and remained so stiil 
more than two hundred years 
after the death of Christ. 
About A. D 641, the Sara- 
cens under Omar conquered 
it, and it remained subject 
to the Caliphs of Bagdad 
615 years. Since then it has 
undergone various vicissi- 
tudes, sometimes triumphant 
and often prostrate. Its mon- 
arch's title at present, is 
Sliak, and sometimes SopJii. 
This country has few rivers, 
many mountains, and several 
tfesert plains. Opium, senna, 
rhubarb, and asafoetida, are 
procured here. The religion 
of Persia at this time is Ma- 
hometan, of the sect of the 
Chias or Scldites. Its capi- 
tal city was Persepolis, now 
CJielmlnar. 

PETER, son of Jonas, 
born in Bcthsaida. He was 
of a prompt, resolute tem- 
per, and sometimes impetu- 
ous. After a life of most 
exalted usefulness, he was 
crucified far his Master's 



sake about A. D. 70. The 
Roman Catholics consider 
the popes to be the succes- 
sors of Peter, as Bishop of 
Rome ; but some learned men 
deny that he ever visited 
that city. 

Two Epistles were writ- 
ten by him ; the first four op 
five years before the othec 
They are called general, be- 
cause written for the use of 
all the converts to Christian- 
ity, and especially such as 
were formerly Jews. 

PHA'RAOH, pronounced 
Pha'ro, the common title of 
the ancient sovereigns of 
Egypt, as Ptolemy was after- 
ward. 

There are 7 kings of this 
name mentioned in Scripture-- 
(1.) He who took Abraham's 
wife, Gen. xii. (2.) He who 
exalted Joseph, Gen. xii. xlvik 
(3.) He who first oppressed 
Israel, Ex. i. ii. (4.) He 
who released Israel, Ex. v. 
xiv. (5.) He who gave his 
wife's sister in marriage tt> 
Hadad, 1 Kings xi. (6.) 
Pharaoh Necho, who set up 
Jehoiakim to be lung of Judea, 
2Kings xxiii.xxiv. He is call- 
ed Necus in Egyptian his- 
tory. In the 14th year of his 
reign, Daniel interpreted the 
dream of the king of Babylon, 
(7.) Pharaoh Hophra, in 
whose reign many of the 
Jews sought refuge in Egygt 
and carried the prophet Jere- 
miah with them, Jer. xliii. 



PHI 



171 



PHI 



8—12 andxliv. 1. He died B. 
C. 570 years. During the reign 
of this last monarch, Nebu- 
chadnezzar besieged and de- 
stroyed Jerusalem and erect* 
ed the golden image on the 
plain of Dura. 

PHARISEES, one of the 
most ancient and noted sects 
emong the Jews, remarkable 
for their rigid way ofliving, 
fasting constantly every sec- 
ond and fifth day of the week, 
and submitting to many se- 
vere austerities. They stud- 
ied the law, were very exact 
in the outward observance of 
it, and pretended to more 
holiness than others ; adding 
voluntary sacrifices to those 
that were commanded, and 
making a great show of ex- 
actly performing all their 
vows. By these methods, 
they gained the good opinion 
of the populace, and were 
esteemed persons of great 
learning and sanctity of man- 
ners But they corrupted the 
word of God by their exposi 
tions, and substituted human 
traditions in the room of di- 
vine truth. 

PHARPAR. See Abana. 

PHILADELPHIA, a city 
of Lydia, at the foot of mount 
Timolus. seventy-two miles 
from Smyrna, was so called, 
from Attalus Philadelphus, 
who built it. A Christian 
church was very early plant- 
ed here, to which John was 
directed to write a consolatory 



and instructive epistle. Rev. 
iii. 7 — 13. Though we can 
only trace the regular history 
of Christianity in this place 
for about eight hundred 
years, it has never been ex- 
tinguished. At present there 
are in it about two thousand 
Christians, chiefly Greeks, 
who speak the Turkish lan- 
guage, formed into five 
churches, and having at least 
twenty places of public wor- 
ship. An Archbishop resides 
here, whose diocese extends 
to Sardis on the west, and 
Laodicea on the east. The 
town contains about three 
thousand houses. Gibbon 
says, " Among the Greek 
colonies and churches of Asia, 
Philadelphia is still erect, — 
a column in a scene of ruins. 1 * 
It is now called Allah Schyr, 
or the " Fair City." 

PHiLE'MON seems to 
have been some eminent 
Christian residing at Colosse, 
whose servant, named 0?iesi- 
mus, absconded and fled to 
Rome. There he was con- 
verted, and sent back to his 
master with a latter from 
Paul, called the Epistle to 
Philemon. 

The Epistle, so called, 
seems to have been written 
by Paul during his detention 
at Rome, A. D. 62 or 63, and 
was sent together with the 
epistles to the Ephesians and 
Colossians, by Tychicus and 
Onesimus. Dr. Paley, in 



PHI 



172 



PHI 



Lis Horse Paulinae, has 
brought many unanswerable 
proofs of the authenticity of 
Scripture from the undesign- 
ed coincidences between this 
Epistle and the Acts of the 
Apostles written by Luke. 

PHILIP, son of "Herod the 
Great, and his wife Cleopatra. 
From him the city Cesarea 
Philippi received its name. 
Matt. xvi.l3,&c. 

(2) Philip, another son 
of Herod, by his wife Mari- 
amne. He was sometimes 
called Herod, and w T as the 
husband of Herodias. He 
was disinherited by his fath- 
er, and lived a private life. 
Matt. xiv. 3, &c. 

(3.) Philip, one of the 
twelve apostles ; a native of 
Bethsaida in Galilee. Some 
ancient historians say that 
he was the individual, who 
requested of Jesus, that he 
might " first go and bury his 
father." Matt. viii. 21,22. 

(4.) Philip, one of the 
seven deacons of the church 
at Jerusalem. 

PHILIPPI, a city of Ma- 
cedonia, anciently called 
Datos ; but being repaired 
by Philip, the father of Alex- 
ander the Great, it received 
its name from him. It stood 
about 70 miles north-east of 
Thessalonica. It was render- 
ed famous by the defeat of 
Brutus and Cassius, in its 
neighbourhood. Here Paul 
preached about A. D. 52; 



and Lydia and many others 
were converted. Acts xvh 
12. This church supported 
Paul, while he laboured as a 
missionary at Thessalonica, 
Phil. iv. 15, 16, and also 
when at Corinth, 2 Cor. xi. 
9 ; and remitted him money 
for his support, while he 
lived at Rome in " his own 
hired house." Phil. iL 25, 
and iv. 10—18. 

The Epistle to these 
Christians seems to have 
been written from Rome dur- 
ing the latter part of Paul's 
first imprisonment. 

PHILISTIA, or Pala- 
tine, is a name now given 
to the w hole of Canaan ; but 
in Scripture it means only a 
narrow strip of land along 
the sea-coast, in the south- 
west of Canaan, about forty 
miles long and fifteen miles 
broad. Its cities were Gerar, 
Gaza, Majuma, Askelon, 
Ekron, Ashdod, and Gath. 
The Philistines and the 
Caphtorim descended from 
Casluhim, the son of Mizra- 
im, who peopled Egypt ; and 
their country is perhaps call- 
ed the isle or country of 
Caphtor. Jer. xlvii. 4. Their 
territory was allotted to the 
Hebrews; but they neglect- 
ing to take possession of it, 
the Philistines were made a 
severe and lasting scourge to 
them. Josh, xiii.2, 3. xv. 4$ 9 
46,47. Judges iii. 1,2,3. 

PHILOSOPHY; the word 



PH(E 



173 



PHY 



literally signifies love of wis- 1 
dom. In its usual accepta- 
tion, however, it denotes a 
science, or collection of sci- 
ences, of which all things, 
both of body and spirit, are 
the objects. When the term 
is thus employed, it admits of 
various definitions. That part 
of philosophy which treats of 
God, is called Theology; 
that which treats of nature, 
Physics, or Natural Philos- 
ophy ; and taat which treats 
of men, Logic, and Moral 
or Intellectual Philosophy. 
When St. Paul cautioned the 
Colossians to " beware lest 
any man should spoil them 
through philosophy," (chap. 
ii. 8.) he did not mean to for- 
bid the pursuit of knowledge 
in general ; but to condemn 
that vain affectation of wis- 
dom, of which the heathens 
were notoriously fond, and 
which stood in opposition to 
the simplicity of the gospel 
of Christ. 

PHOENICIA, a province 
of Syria. It contained the 
famous cities, Sarepta, Ptole- 
mais, Tyre and Zidon. The 
Tyrians and Zidonians had 
almost all the trade of the 
then known world. There 
was scarcely a shore or Isle 
of the Mediterranean Sea, 
where they did not plant col- 
onies. The most noted of 
which was that of the Car- 
thaginians, who once long 
contended with Rome. It is 



thought the Phenicians push- 
ed their trade as far as Britain?, 
and they probably had set- 
tlements on the Red Sea and 
Persian Gulf. Sir Isaac 
Newton thinks vast numbers 
of Edomitesfled hither in the 
days of David, and carried 
their arts along with them. 
The chief city of this re'gion, 
and sometimes the region'it- 
self, is now called Tripoli. 

PHRYGIA, a country of 
Lesser Asia, having Bithyn- 
ia and Galatia on the north, 
Cappadocia on the east, and 
Pisidia and Lycia on the 
south, and Lydia, Mysia, and 
Caria, on the west. The gos- 
pel was very early preached 
in Phrygia, and a church 
formed, which for many ages 
made a considerable appear- 
ance. Acts xvi. 6. xviii. 23. 
A portion of the inhabitants 
are Christians to this day. 

PHYLACTERY, a slip or 
box of parchment on which 
was written some important 
texts of Scripture, worn by 
pious Jews on their foreheads 
or arms. Our Lord censures 
the Pharisees for wearing 
theirs very large and con- 
spicuous, out of vain glory 
and hypocrisy, and making 
the use of them a great part 
of their religion. The cus- 
tom was founded on the com- 
mand, Ex. xiii. 16, and Num- 
bers xv. 37 — 40, which, was 
probably only figurative lart- 
guage, meaning that they 



PIS 



374 



PIT 



should most carefully remem- 
ber God's word. But the 
Jews were apt to turn all the 
law into carnal observances. 
The passages commonly writ- 
ten on them, were Numb. 
xv. 41. Deut. vi. 6— 9. Ex. 
xiii. 8, 9, and xiii. 14 — 16. 
I)eut. xi. 18—21. It does 
not appear, however, that 
they confined themselves to 
these texts. There is no ev- 
idence of their being worn by 
the ancient Jews. The cus- 
tom seems to have originated 
about the time of the rise of 
the sect of Pharisees. Some 
Jews now wear a square 
piece of stuff under their 
clothes with four strings and 
four tassels at the corners, 
which they call Arbah Casoth. 

PILATE. SeePojVTius. 

PINNACLE, a turret or 
high summit. The " pinna- 
cle of the temple," Matt. iv. 
5, seems to have been the 
battlement of the roof of Sol- 
omon's porch ; which stood 
on ground made by carrying 
up a wall of several hundred 
feet from the valley below, 
and thus enlarging the space 
for the temple on the top. It 
was a dizzy height, and com- 
manded a great prospect. 

PISGAH, the highest top 
of that chain of mountains 
called Marim, and a part of 
mount Nebo ; and so Moses 
is sometimes said to view 
Canaan from Nebo, and some- 
times from Pisgah. Deut. 



iii. 27. xxxiv. 1. There were 
several fine springs of water 
at its base. Deut. iv. 49. 

PISI'DIA, a province of 
Lesser Asia, west of mount 
Taurus, south-west of Ly- 
caonia, and north of Pam- 
phylia. Its present name is 
JVatolia. 

Pi'SON, the name of the 
first branch of the river of 
Eden. It is supposed to be 
the western branch of the 
divided stream of the Tigris 
and Euphrates, which runs 
along the side of Havilah in 
Arabia. Genesis ii. 11. 

PITCH, the substance so 
called, Genesis vi. 14, is the 
same as the " slime," men- 
tioned Gen. xiii. 3, and xiv, 
10, and is generally supposed 
to be the inflammable min- 
eral, called asphaltos, from 
the lake Asphaltites, or Dead 
Sea in Judea, on the surface 
of which it is found. When 
first obtained, it is soft, vis- 
cous, and pliable, but soon 
acquires a hardness and te- 
nacity, superior to our pitch* 
It was therefore excellent for 
smearing the ark, Ex. ii. 3 ? 
or for building the tower of 
Babel, Gen. xi. 3. The Arabs 
still use it for the bottoms of 
boots ; and in the ruins of 
Babylon, large masses of 
brick work cemented with if 
have been discovered. jXap* 
tha, Petroleum, Barbadoes* 
tar, &c. are different varie- 
ties of this substance. 



PLO 



175 



POM 



PI'THOM and HAME>- 
SES were the two cities, for 
the building of which, the 
Hebrews made brick. Ex. 
i. 11. The situation of them 
is now unknown. 

PLEDGE, a pawn which 
a lender takes from a borrow- 
er, to secure the payment of 
his money. No millstone 
was ever to be taken in 
pledge ; the widow's ok, or 
a person's clothing for body 
or bed, was not at all to be 
taken, or at least was to be 
restored the same night. No 
Hebrew was to take a pledge 
from a poor man of his own 
nation, nor to go into the bor- 
rower's house to take a pledge 
for himself; but the borrow- 
er was to bring out to him 
what could be best spared. 
Ex. xxii. 26. Beut. xxiv. 
10 — 17. Ezekiel xviii. 7 — 
12, 16. 

PLE'IADES, a beautiful 
cluster of stars, sometimes 
called a the seven stars." 
They are in the constella- 
tion Taurus, and appear the 
last of March. 

PLOUGH, an instrument 
of tillage. To plough and 
look back, Luke ix. 62, is to 
make bad work, if indeed one 
could thus work at all. Chris- 
tians, therefore, must not 
look back on the world with 
pleasure and desire, but give 
all heed to their holy and 
blessed work. 1 Cor. ix. 
10. 



POETS, such as compose 
songs or verses in metre* 
Acts xvii, 28. Homer, Pin* 
dar, Anacreon, and Sappho 5 
excelled among the Greeks; 
Virgil and Horace, among 
the Latins. Many portions 
of the sacred writings are in 
poetry; the grandeur of 
which incomparably trans- 
cends that of any human pro* 
duction. 

POLL, pronounced pole 
— the head of a person, a 
register of heads or persons* 
Numb.i. 2. 1 Chron. xxiih 
3, 24. As a verb, it means 
to lop, cut, or prune. 2 Sam* 
xiv. 26. Ezek. xliv. 20. 

POLLUX. See Castor. 

POMEGRAN'ATE, a 
species of the apple-tree. Its 
growth is low and spreading ; 
its wood hard and knotty ; its 
bark reddish and prickly ; its 
leaves, greenish, inclining to 
red ; and its blossoms large, 
and bell-shaped. The fruit, 
which resembles an apple, 
ripens about August, and 
is sometimes three or four 
inches in diameter, and of a 
pound weight. It was esteenv 
ed one of the most delicious 
fruits in the world. Numb, 
xiii. 23. The pomegranate 
juice is frequently made into 
wine, or mixed with it. Song 
viii. 2. One kind was sour, 
and was used to give a flavour 
to meats and liquors, till the 
juice of lemons and oranges 
superseded it. Deut. viii. 7, 



POW 



176 



PRA 



8. It comes to perfection in 
our Southern States. 

PONTIUS PILATE, the 
Roman Governor of Judea, 
"Was in office 10 years ; and 
by his covetous, irresolute 
and cruel administration, 
made himself exceedingly 
hated both by the Jews and 
Samaritans. At length com- 
plaints against him reached 
the court of Cesar ; and he 
was called to Rome, tried, 
and banished to Gaul. Af- 
terwards, through poverty 
and shame, he committed su- 
icide. Matt, xxvii. &c. His 
deposition took place three 
years after the death of 
Christ, under the Emperor 
Caligula. 

PONTUS, a province on 
the south side of the Euxine 
sea, extending from the riv- 
er Halys on the west, to the 
country of Colchys on the 
East. In this district is the 
river Thermodobn, beside 
which the Amazons are fabled 
to have dwelt. 

POST. (1.) An upright 
timber. (2.) A carrier of dis- 
patches or letters, who goes 
with haste. Jer. li. 31. Man's 
days are more swift. Job ix. 

POTSHERD, a piece of 
broken earthen ware, Job 
ii. 8. 

POWER, a word various- 
ly used to signify ability, 
liberty, or jurisdiction, pre- 
rogative, &c. The expres- 
sion^ 1 Cor. xi. 10, has caus- 



ed much discussion. A pro- 
bable interpretation is, that 
a woman's veil was regarded 
as an emblem of subjection to 
the other sex. The word 
messenger, there translated 
angel, may mean spies, who 
came into the Christian as- 
sembly, and would malicious^ 
ly report if their women de- 
parted from the established 
customs. 

PRAISE, to commend. 
To praise God, is to duly ac- 
knowledge his great excel- 
lencies. Ps. cxxxviii. &c. 
Rev. xix. 5. To praise men, 
is to declare their good oc- 
tions or qualifications. Pa. 
xxvii. 2. 

PRAY, to entreat or ask 
earnestly with submission; 
to appeal to the judgment 
and decision of another ; to 
intercede in behalf of others, 
and to beg that some evil 
may be averted, or some fa- 
vour or good obtained ; to 
make known our desires to 
God, by offering up our peti- 
tions for things lawful and 
necessary, with an humble 
confidence of obtaining them, 
through Christ's mediation 
alone, to the praise of God's 
mercy, truth, and power. 
Matthew vi. 6. John xvi. 
23, 24, 26. We are exhorted 
to pray for all men, 1 Tim. 
ii. 1, and are encouraged to 
this benevolent act, James v. 
16; but we must seek and 
expect the help of the Holy 



PRE 



177 



PRI 



Spirit. Rom.viii. 26. The; 
prayers that we direct to 
God, are the ordinary means 
by which we receive grace 
from him. 

To neglect prayer is a 
great sin against the majes- 
ty and mercy of God ; and 
an unspeakable loss to our- 
selves. The pious Jews used 
to pray three times a day, at 
morning, noon, and evening ; 
and less than this ought not 
to satisfy Christians. 

The true nature of prayer 
may be best ascertained from 
a view of the manner in 
which it is spoken of in Scrip- 
ture. It is called, inquiring 
of the Lord, Gen. xxv. 22; 
supplication, Zech. xii. 10 ; 
entreaty, Ex. viii. 8 ; wrest- 
ling with God, Rom. xv. 30 ; 
lifting up the soul, Ps. xxv. 
I ; pouring out the heart, Ps. 
Ixii. 8; looking up to God, 
Ps. v. 3 ; taking hold of God, 
Isa. lxiv. 7; crying, 1 Sam. 
vii. 8 ; asking, John xv. 16 j 
seeking and knocking, Matt. 
vii. 7, &c. &c. How plainly 
$o we see from this method 
of speaking of prayer, the un- 
acceptableness and inefficien- 
cy of cold, formal, and heart- 
less repetition before God. 

PREACH. See Gospel. 
To -preach, is loudly to pro- 
claim the will of God, as his 
appointed heralds. Eph. iii. 
8. To preach in a proper 
manner, requires no small 
attention, in order that no 



fault in the pronunciation, the 
gesture, the language, the or- 
der, or'the matter, may tend 
to bring the truths of the gos- 
pel into contempt ; or by feed- 
ing the carnal fancy of airy 
minds, divert them from the 
important subject. 

PRES'BYTERY, a body 
of ministers met for ordain- 
ing a person, or other pur- 
poses. 1 Tim. iv. 14. 

PREVENT, to hinder, as 
the word is now used. But 
this is never its signification 
in the Bible. It there means 
always to precede, or, go be- 
fore ; this being the use of 
the word at the time our 
translation of the Bible was 
made. Ps. lxxx. 3. 2 Sam. 
xxii. 6. 1 Thess. iv. 15. 

PRICKS, sharp points 
placed in the end of a long 
staff, and used formerly to 
drive oxen. Of course, if 
they kicked against them, 
they only wounded them- 
selves more deeply. Acts 
ix. 5. They are now com- 
monly called goads. 

PRIDE. (1.) The high- 
ness of a mind filled with 
self-conceit, contempt of 
God, and disdain of men. 
(2.) What one is proud of> 
as power, wealth, church- 
ordinances, and relation to 
God, &c. (3.) The haughty 
looks and words, or wick- 
ed deeds, whereby a man 
discovers the pride of his 
heart, 



PRI 



178 



PRI 



PRIESTHOOD means, 
(1.) The office of a priest. 
Numb, xvi. 10. Under the 
Jewish law, the priest offered 
sacrifices, taught the people, 
and prayed for them. Aaron's 
was an " everlasting priest- 
hood ;" it secured to him and 
his seed the office of priest 
for many generations. Ex. 
si. 15. Numb. xxv. 13. But 
Christ's is an " unchangeable 
priesthood," as it never can 
pass from him to another. 
Heb. vii. 24. (2.) A class 
of priests, or persons who 
perform religious offices, ac- 
cording to the will of God. 
The saints are an " holy," 
Stnd " royal priesthood ;" a 
company of spiritual priests, 
washed in Jesus' blood, sanc- 
tified by his word and Spirit, 
and enabled to ofTer up spirit- 
ual sacrifices of prayer and 
praise to God through Jesus 
•Christ. 1 Pet. ii. 5, 9. Rev. 
i. 6. Before the consecration 
of Aaron and his sons, fathers, 
elders, brothers, &c. acted as 
priests, as Noah, Abraham, 
Job, Melchisedek, &c. and 
occasionally every man for 
himself, as Abel, Cain, &c. 

At the head of the Jewish 
priesthood was a High 
Priest. His duty was to 
offer sacrifices, to oversee 
the house of God, regulate 
the services of the other 
priests and the Levites, di- 
rect public worship, obtain 
soecial indications of the 



Divine will, and once a year 
enter the Holy of Holies, 
with blood and incense, as 
described, Lev. xvi. His 
dress, both on common and 
special occasions, is describ- 
ed, Ex. xxxix. &c. In the 
annexed pictures^ he is seen 
as robed on the day of expia- 
tion, Lev. xvi. and on ordi- 
nary occasions. Ex. xxviii. 
The office began in Aaron, 
and was continued in his fam- 
ily till near the time of the 
ruin of the Jewish polity, by 
the Romans; when among 
other acts of corruption the 
office was bartered for money. 

The high priest, once a 
year, made atonement for the 
sins of all the people ; but 
Christ is the true High Priest, 
who, by the sacrifice of him- 
self made atonement for the 
sins of the whole world, and 
now intercedes, at the right 
hand of God, for all who be- 
lieve on his name. Heb. vii. 
17. ix. II, and xii. 24,25. 

PRINCE, a chief gov- 
ernor; a king's son. Christ 
is called the " Prince of 
Peace," being the purchaser 
and procurer of peace be- 
tween God and men, between 
men and men, and between 
Jews and Gentiles. Eph. ii. 
15. John xiv. 27. He is 
called the " Prince of Life, 5 * 
Acts iii. 15, because he is the 
author of temporal life, in 
whom we live, move, and 
have our being. He is also 




THE JEWISH HIGH PRIEST. 

As robed on the day of expiation. 




THE JEWISH HIGH PRIEST, 

In his ordinary Official Robes. 



PRO 



181 



PRO 



called the '« Prince of the 
Kings of the Earth," Rev. i. 
5, as he rules over all. Satan 
is called the " prince of this 
world," because he boasts of 
having all the kingdoms of 
the earth at his disposal. 
Matt. iv. 9 ; and because he 
has an usurped dominion in 
the world, and great power 
in the hearts of the children 
of disobedience, who yield 
a voluntary subjection to him. 
Of all this power he shall 
goon be dispossessed. John 
xii. 31. 

PROFANE, openly wick- 
ed, wanting in religious rev- 
erence to sacred names or 
things, ITim.i. 9; unhoty, 
or impure. 1 Tim. vi. 20. 
Esau is called profane in 
Scripture, because he sold 
his birth-right, which was a 
holy thing ; not only because 
the priesthood was annexed 
to it, but also because it was 
a privilege leading to Christ, 
and a type of his title to the 
heavenly inheritance. When 
the apostle censured " pro- 
fane babblings," he meant 
those heathen absurdities 
"which were founded in su- 
perstition and ignorance. 

PROMISE, ^an assurance 
given, by which a person en- 
gages to do or forbear to do 
something. God, in his 
word, promises blessings to 
his people. The fifth com- 
mandment, " Honour thy 
father and mother," is call- 



ed the %t commandment of 
promise," Eph.vi. 2, because 
God has added this declara- 
tion — that they who honour 
their parents shall have their 
days lengthened on the earth. 
Jesus Christ has promised to 
be with his people to the end 
of the world. Matt, xxviit 
20. The Holy Ghost is call- 
ed the u Holy Spirit of pron> 
ise," Eph. i. 13, being prom- 
ised to them that believe on 
Christ, and being the seal and 
pledge of their everlasting 
happiness. 

PROPHECY. (1.) A de- 
claration of fulure things, 
Neh. vi. 12. (2.) A declar- 
ation of hidden, obscure, and 
important things. Prov. xxx. 
1. (3.) The preaching of 
the gospel. 1 Tim. iv. 14. 
Rom. xii. 6. (4.) The gift 
of explaining obscure pas- 
sages of Scripture, or of fore- 
telling things to come. 1 
Cor. xii. 10. xiii. 8. 

PROPHET, one who fore- 
tels what is yet to come ; a 
person inspired and appoint- 
ed by God to reveal his will, 
to warn of approaching judg* 
ments, to explain obscure 
passages of Scripture, or ta 
make known the truths of 
the Bible, and urge men to 
obedience. 1 Cor. xiv. 26, 
Jesus Christ is u that proph- 
et," having taught the will 
of God on earth, with an in> 
finite superiority to all the 
rest in force of authority 5 ex- 



PRO 



182 



PRO 



tent of knowledge, and effica-' 
cy of instruction, and being 
now exalted to the right hand 
of power in heaven, still 
teaches by his word and 
Spirit. Such as refuse his 
teachings, incur certain rep- 
robation. Acts iii. 2.2. Heb. 
xiL 25. 

About the time of Samuel, 
Schools of Prophets were 
formed, wherein young men 
were piously educated, to 
prepare them for receiving 
the gift of prophecy. Such 
schools we find at Bethel, 
Gilgal, Najoth, Jericho, and 
Jerusalem ; which were in- 
spected by Samuel, Elijah, 
Elisha, &c; but it does not 
appear that all these young 
men were ever inspired, i 
Sam. x. xi. xix. 2 Kings ii. 
Whether the most of the no- 
ted prophets were anointed 
at their entrance on their 
office, we know not. It is 
certain they generally lived 
in a very low and temperate 
manner. The presents giv- 
en them were such as oil, 
bread, fruits, honey. 2 Kings 
iv. 42. 1 Sam. ix. 7,8. x. 1. 
John Baptist was " more than 
a prophet," as he pointed out 
Jesus Christ as already in- 
carnate. Matt. xi. 9. Paul, 
Peter, and John may be call- 
pd prophets, as there are in 
their writings a variety of 
predictions. 2 Thess. i. 7 — 
10. ii. 3— 11. ITim. iv.l— 
3. 2 Pet. iii. 10, &c. Almost 



the entire book of Revelation 
is a prophecy. 

The following i9 a cata- 
logue of the prophets. The 
order of succession is, ia 
some instances, uncertain, 
and some chronologists give 
different dates. Some of the 
prophets lived under succes- 
sive kings, but the space al- 
lows only the mention of one. 



years. 

Samuel prophesied 81 

David * 48 

Elijah " under Ahab, 14 

Elisha « " Jehoram, 58 
Jonah " " Jehu. 
Joel « " Uzziah. 

Amos " " Jeroboam II. 25 

dosea * « " 62 

Isaiah " " Ahaz, 62 

Micah K " " 40 
Nahum " " Hezekia^, 
Zephaniah " " Josiah,. 
Habakkuk " " " 

Jeremiah " " " 41 
Obadiah " in the captivity. 

Ezekiel « « 21 

Daniel " « 63 

Haggai " after the captivity, 

Zechariah " to 2 

Malachi ** « 3 



PROPITIATION, an a- 

tonement for guilt. Christ 
is " the propitiation for our 
sins." Rom. iii. 25. 1 John 
ii. 2. 

PROS'ELYTE, means in 
Scripture one that turned 
from Heathenism to the 
Jewish religion. Acts ii. 
10. Some were proselytes 
of the gate, who though they 
renounced idolatry, observ- 
ed what the rabbins call the 



PRO 



183 



PSA 



seven precepts of Noah ;* 
and attended the Jewish in- 
structions, yet were not cir- 
cumcised, nor partook of the 
passover. To these the Jews 
admitted hopes of eternal life, 
and they allowed them to 
dwell in Canaan. Of this 
kind of proselytes we may 
suppose Naaman, Cornelius, 
the Ethiopian eunuch, and 
Solomon's 153,600 servants 
to have been. Others were 
proselytes of righteousness, 
or, of the covenant; being 
obliged to fulfil the whole law 
of Moses. At their admission, 
the motives influencing them 
to change their religion were 
examined, and they were in- 
structed in the principles of 
Judaism. Next, if males, 
they were circumcised; after 
which they presented their 
oblation to the Lord. Wheth- 
er they were also dipped in 
water is much disputed, and 
seems not probable, as no 
mention is made of such a 
rite in Scripture, which 
would leave it without au- 
thority if practised. No men- 
tion is made of it in Josephus, 
Philo, the Apocrypha, or the 



* These were seven laws, which 
they maintained were given by Je- 
hovah to the sons of Noah', viz. (1.) 
To avoid idolatry. (2.) To wor- 
ship God. (3.) To abhor incest. 
(4.) To commit no murder. (5.) 
Not to steal. (6.) To punish mur- 
der with death. (7.) Not to eat 
blood or things strangled. 



New Testament, nor by any 
writer for several hundred 
years after Christ. No boyji 
under twelve years of ago, 
or girls under thirteen, were 
admitted, without the consent 
of their parents ; or, if these 
refused, without the consent 
of the judges of the place- 
During the time of Christ, th© 
Jews, and especially the 
pharisees, greatly exerted 
themselves to make prose*- 
lytes. Compare Matt, xxiii. 
15, with Acts xiii. 43. 

PROVERBS, the name of 
a book in the Scriptures* 
containing the inspired pre*- 
cepts of Solomon. 1 Kingp 
iv. 32. The whole in the 
original seems to be poetry. 

PROVIDENCE, a care 
for the future. The word is 
principally used in reference 
to that kind superintendence 
which our heavenly Father 
exercises over his creatures, 
supporting them in their be*- 
ing, and governing them in 
all their actions. 

PSALM, a holy song. 
The Psalms are particularly 
sweet to a Christian, because 
they contain so much of the 
experience of a religious man- 
Most of them were composed 
by David. The 90th, was 
composed by Moses ; perhaps 
the 80th by Heman, called 
the treasury of instruction. 
Those under the name of 
Asaph were probably directed 
to him as leader of the tern- 



PSA 



184 



PUB 



pie choir. Some psalms are 
doctrinal, as Ps. i. ; some his- 
torical, as Ps. lxxvii. cv. cvi.; 
some prophetic, as Ps. ex. ; 
some consist of prayer and 
complaints, as Ps. vi. xxxviii. 
&c. j others consist of praise 
and thanksgiving, as Ps. 
cxlv. cl. &c. In some, most 
or all of these subjects are 
connected, as Ps. lxxxix. 

Whether the titles of the 
Psalms are of divine authori- 
ty, is not agreed. The He- 
brew words therein mention- 
ed, are by some considered 
as names of instruments of 
music ; or first words of 
some songs ; or denote the 
subject-matter of the Psalm. 
It is thought Maschil means 
a poem, or set composition, 
and signifies, that the Psalm 
is designed for instruction, 
Ps. xxxii. ; that Michtam de- 
notes the precious or golden 
nature of the Psalm ; and per- 
haps all the Psalms so mark- 
ed relate to Jesus Christ, as 
Gussetius observes. JYeginoth 
or Neginath, signifies string- 
ed instruments. Ps. iv. Ixi. 
JYehiloth, wind instruments. 
Ps. v. Gittith, a kind of in- 
strument invented at Gath. 
Ps. viii. Jllamoth, the treble, 
or a song to be sung by vir- 
gins. Ps. xlvi. Shiggaion, 
or Shigionoth, may denote, 
that the Psalm is to be sung 
with diversified tunes, or has 
a very diversified matter. 
Ps. vii. Hab. iii. 



PSAL'TERY, a musical 
instrument, first mentioned 
in the Psalms of David. It 
seems to have been shaped 
much like the present harp ; 
or the Greek letter delta in- 
verted thus (v)- The body 
was of wood, hollow ; and 
Josephus says it had 12 
strings. The chords were 
at first of flax ; but subse- 
quently were manufactured 
from the entrails of sheep. 
Harp strings of the latter 
kind are mentioned by Ho- 
mer, as a recent invention. 

The modern psaltery is a 
flat instrument of a triangu- 
lar form, strung from side to 
side, with iron or brass wire, 
and played on with a kind of 
bow. 

PTOLEMA'IS, a sea-port 
in Galilee of Judea, now 
called Acre. Acts xxL 7, 
See Accho. 

PUBLICAN, a collector 
of taxes. The Romans farm* 
ed out their revenue to men 
who paid into the treasury of 
the state, a certain sum, and 
took the risk of collecting. 
Contracts were generally tak> 
en by principal men, who let 
out small districts to individ- 
uals for specified sums, these 
undertaking to collect. Print- 
ing not being known, and the 
laws little understood, these 
inferior agents, generally 
committed gross impositions, 
and extorted from the people 
all they could. They were 



PUT 



185 



QUI 



therefore greatly hated by 
the Jews, whose pride was 
mortified by having to pay 
tribute at all. Matthew, 
Zaccheus, and probably oth- 
er publicans, became disci- 
ples of Christ, Luke xv. 2. 
Matt. xxi. 31. 

PULSE, the seed of legu- 
minous plants, as peas, vetch- 
es, beans, &c. Lev. xxiii. 
14. 2 Sam. xvii. 28. 

PU'RIM is the plural of 
Pur, and means lots. It is 
the name of a solemn feast 
among the Jews, in com- 
memoration of Hainan's over- 
throw. It derives its name 
from the circumstance that 
Hainan cast lots to ascertain 
the best day for destroying 
the Jews. Est. iii. 7. and 
ix. 26. 

PURPLE, a colour much 
worn by kings and emperors. 
Mark xv. 17. It is the fa- 
mous Tyrian dye, so costly 
and so celebrated in antiqui- 
ty. It is called in 1 Macca'o. 
iv. 23, " purple of the sea," 
It was made from the blood of 
a shell-fish ; plenty of which 
were found in the sea, on the 
north-west of Canaan, and 
are now found about the Car- 
ibee islands, and other parts 
at America, and on the west 
of England. 

PUTE'OLI, a city of Cam- 
pania in Italy ; so called 
from its hot waters, or the 
multitude of its wells. Its 
ancient name was Delus 

Q 



Minor. It stood about 8 
miles from Naples, and was 
much frequented on account 
of its mineral waters. From 
hence a considerable trade 
was carried on with Alexan- 
dria in Egypt. Paul halted 
here seven days, as he went 
prisoner to Rome. Acts 
xxviii 13. We find several 
of its bishops in the primitive 
councils of the Christian 
church. The present name 
of the place is Buzzoli. 

PY'GARG-, a species of 
gazelle or antelope, about the 
size of our deer. It is prob- 
ably the Jlddace of the an- 
cients. The word occurs 
Deut. xiv. 5, only. 



QUAILS, a gallinaceous 
bird, somewhat less in size 
than the turtle dove. They 
are extremely numerous in 
warm countries. Ex. xvi. 
13. Numb. xi. 31, 32. 

QUATERNION, a file, 
consisting of four soldiers. 
Peter was placed under the 
guard of four quaternions, 
that is sixteen soldiers, in 
order, it is probable, that 
each might guard him three 
hours at a time. See Watch. 

QUICK' The living flesh, 
the sensible part of the body. 
Those persons who shall be 
alive at the resurrection, are 



RAI 



186 



RAI 



called the quick, in distinc- 
tion from those who will 
arise from the dead. Acts x. 
42. To give spiritual life to 
sinners, is called quickening 
them. Eph. ii. 1 — 5. 

QUIT, to acquit. Josh. ii. 
20. 1 Sam. iv. 9. Chris- 
tians in their great conflict 
with sin and temptation, are 
to " quit themselves as men." 
1 Cor. xvi. 13. 



K. 

RABBI, a name of dignity 
among the Jews, signifying 
doctor or master ; it was ap- 
plied to any learned man, but 
especially to a divine, or a 
teacher of their law. The 
Rabbi was ruler of the syna- 
gogue, decided all religious 
disputes, and received the 
utmost homage. Our Saviour 
exhorts the disciples not to 
be ambitious of gaining such 
distinctions and titles, as the 
Scribes and Pharisees sought 
alter, but to look to him as 
their only lawgiver and 
teacher, whom they were to 
follow 7 in all matters of faith 
and worship. Mat. xxiii. 7, 8. 

RACA, a Syriac word, 
meaning a silly fellow ; a 
term used by the Jews to ex- 
press the utmost contempt. 
Matt. v. 20. 

RAIMENT, was at first 
made of the skins of beasts 



Gen. iii. 21 ; but the art of 

spinning and weaving was 
soon invented, Ex. xxviii. 
42, and even embroidering, 
Ex. xxxv. 35, which became 
common in the days of the 
Judges. The common gar- 
ment in the days of Christ, 
was a sort of shirt or tunick, 
reaching to the ancles gener- 
ally, with sleeves, but some- 
times having only arm-holes. 
A girdle confined it at the 
waist. Over this various 
garments were worn, accord- 
ing to the quality of the per- 
son. All classes wore some- 
thing in the form of a large 
shawl, called a " cloak," or 
" upper garment/' Matt, 
xxi. 8. When a person had 
nothing on but the tunick, he 
was said to be "naked." 
John xxi. 7. Persons could 
carry various articles, in the 
folds of their shawl, Luke vi. 
38 ; and at night, in that 
climate, they rarely needed 
any other bedclothes. Ex. 
xxii. 26, 27. Around this 
outer garment the ancient 
Jews were accustomed to 
have a border or fringe, 
sometimes marked with texts 
of Scripture. The Pharisees 
through ostentation, made 
theirs remarkably large. 
Matt, xxiii. 5. When en- 
gaged in laborious work, this 
outer garment was laid 
aside, as our Saviour did, 
when he washed his disci- 
ples' feet, John xiii. 4; and 



RAI 



187 



RAM 



Peter, when he fished, John I exceedingly effectual. Its 
xxi. 7. This explains, also, ( appearance^though now corn- 
Matt, xxiv. 18. These up- raon, continues to be a 



per garments would of course 
lit persons of any size, equal- 
ly well. To give raiment, 
was therefore common ; and 
especially, when opulent or 
eminent men gave rich en- 
tertainments. In such cases, 
not to accept and put on the 
proffered robe, was a great 
affront. Matt. xxii. 12. See 
Vail, Sandals, &c. 

RAIN was plentiful in Is- 
rael twice a year; -'the early 
and the latter rain," occurred 
the one in September, the 
other in March. In Egypt, it 
scarcely ever rains, the over- 
flow of the Nile, and copious 
dews, answering the purpose. 
In tropical climates the win- 
ter is the rainy season. Vio- 
lent winds often attend these 
rains, and overthrow in- 
secure houses. Hence our 
Saviour's parable. Matt, 
vii. 25. 

RAINBOW, a splendid 
arch consisting of all the co- 
lors formed by the refraction 
and reflection of the rays of 
light by rain or vapour. It 
always appears opposite the 
sun, and never when he is 
higher than 42 degrees above 
the horizon. Many critics 
have supposed that previous 
to the flood this beautiful 
bow had not appeared. If 
not, the confirmation to 
Noah's faith must have been 



gracious token that the earth 
shall not again be covered 
with waters- Gen. ix. 8 — 17. 

RAISINS, dried grapes. 
They are much used for 
food in many countries, and 
are considered very whole- 
some. 

RAM, a male sheep. See 
Sheep. Battering Rams 
were used before the inven- 
tion of cannon, to destroy the 
fortifications of cities. This 
machine was a huge log of 
timber, with an iron head at 
one end, suspended by the 
middle to elevated poles, and 
driven violently against the 
wall, by great numbers of 
men, until a breach was ef- 
fected. A shelter was erect- 
ed to defend these men from 
archers on the walls. Ezek. 
iv. 2, and xxi. 22. 

RAMAH, a city of Ben- 
jamin, which stood 8 miles 
northward from Jerusalem, 
Josh, xviii. 25, and being on a 
hill was visible from thence. 
Near to it Deborah dwelt. 
Judges iv. 5. Elkanah and 
Samuel resided in it, 1 Sam. 
i. 1, 19. vii. 17. viii. 4. xxv. 
1 ; and at Najoth, or the 
meadows of Ramah, was a 
college of young prophets. 
I Sam. xix. There was 
another Ramah, on the west 
border of Naphtali, Josh. xix. 
36 ; also a Ramath or Ramoth , 



RAV 



188 



REE 



which we suppose the same 
as Baalath-beer, in the lot of 
Simeon. Josh.xix.8. 1 Sam. 
xxx. 27. See Gilead ; and 
also a Ramoth, Remeth, or 
Jarmtith,in the lot oflssa- 
char. Josh. xix. 21. 

RANSOM, the price paid 
for the pardon of an offence, 
or the redemption of a slave 
or captive. Prov. vi. 35. 
Exod. xxi. 30. To prevent 
the plague, and make cere- 
monial atonement for their 
souls, all male Hebrews 
of adult age, paid half a 
shekel yearly, as a ransom. 
Ex. xxx. 12. The obedience 
and death of Christ are the 
only proper ransom and price 
of our deliverance from sin 
and misery. Matt. xx. 28. 
Job xxxiii. 24. 

RAVEN, a bird about the 
size of a pullet. Its- colour 
is very black, and its voice 
harsh and doleful. It de- 
lights in solitude, and lives 
on carrion, &c. The raven 
which Noah sent forth, did 
not return, probably because 
it found rest and food on the 
floating carcasses. It has by 
all nations been considered a 
disgusting and hateful bird ; 
but especially so to the Jews, 
whose laws pronounced it 
unclean. How striking, 
therefore, is the proof of 
God's paternal regard to all 
his creatures, derived from 
his care of this bird. Job 
xxxviii. 41. He not only 



feeds the ravens, but if killed^ 
he cares for their unfledged 
young. " He giveth food to 
the young ravens which 
cry." Ps. cxlvii. 9. The 
raven is a striking emblem 
of unconverted man. If the 
Lord takes care of ravens^ 
how confidently may his 
people trust him. Luke xiL 
24. 

RE'CHABITES,atribeof 
Midianites, who lived in tents 
and roamed the country fop 
pasture, as the Arabs and 
Tartars now do. Their 
origin and manner of life are 
described 2 Kings x. 15 — 23. 
Jer. xxxv. 5 — 7. It is thought 
that some tribes dwelling 
on the northeast of Medina, 
are descendants of the Re- 
chabites. 

REDEEM, to buy back 
what was sold, pledged or 
forfeited. Luke i. 68. 

REDEEMER, one who, 
ransoms by paying the price. 
Jesus Christ redeemed us by 
suffering in cur stead the 
penalty of the Divine law. 
1 Pet. i. 19. 

REED. (1.) A tall, hollow 
jointed plant, growing in fen- 
ny places, much used in hot 
countries, where the plan! 
abounds, for buflfeings, car- 
riages, &c. &c. In this 
country, it is employed for 
fishing rods, weavers' reeds, 
&c. It was anciently used 
for writing, and answered 
to the word "pen." 3 John 



REG 



189 



REI 



13. The use of quills for 
writing cannot be traced 
further back than to Isiodo- 
rus, who died in A. D. 636. 
(2.) An instrument of music 
like a flute. When our 
blessed Lord said, " a bruised 
reed he would not break," 
it is not certain to which he 
alluded ; but in reference to 
either, the allusion is highly 
instructive. (3.) A measure 
of 9 feet was called a reed. 

REFUGE, a place of safe- 
ty to which a person may fly 
in case of danger. The Lord 
commanded Moses to appoint 
six cities of refuge for those 
who slew any one uninten- 
tionally. Josh. xx. 7 — 9. 
The roads to which, were re- 
quired to be 58 feet wide, and 
kept in perfect repair, with 
sufficient bridges over the 
streams, and guide boards 
marked Refuge, pointing the 
way at every corner. This 
arrangement strikingly typi- 
fied the Lord Jesus. God is 
called the refuge of his peo- 
ple, Deut. xxxiii. 27, as he 
defends them against all the 
assaults of their enemies. 
Jesus Christ is the only ref- 
uge for sinners. 

Refuge of Lies, means a 
false hope. Isa. xxviii. 17. 

REGENERATION, the 
new birth, or a spiritual 
change from a carnal to a 
Christian life. This renova- 
tion of the soul, with all its 
affections, is effected by the 



spirit and grace of God, and 
is called the new birth. It 
consists in the infusion of 
spiritual life into the sou), 
whereby it is enabled to per- 
form spiritual actions, and to 
live to God. Tit. hi. 5. Jt 
differs from conversion be* 
cause regeneration is a pow- 
er conferred, and conversion 
is the exercise of that power. 
Regeneration is the principle 
given to turn into the Lord ; 
conversion is our actual turn- 
ing unto him ; regeneration 
is the life itself, conversion 
its motion. It differs from 
justification. Justification 
acquits a man from the charge 
of guilt; regeneration im- 
parts a new nature. Justifi- 
cation is effected by the obe- 
dience, death, and resurrec- 
tion of Jesus Christ ; but re- 
generation is the work of the 
Holy Ghost. It differs from 
adoption. Adoption entitles 
to heaven, and regeneration 
is our meetness for its enjoy- 
ment. 

The word is also used fn 
another sense ; for that new 
life which is expected at the 
general resurrection, and 
restitution of all things, 
when Jesus shall sit on the 
throne of his glory, Matt. 
xix. 28. 

REIGN, to rule as su- 
preme. God who is the ab- 
solute Monarch of the world, 
reigns in the proper sens^ of 
the word, as he disposes of 



REP 



190 



REP 



all things, in heaven and on 
earth. 

Sin is said to reign, when 
its motions and influences 
are readily obeyed, and it ex- 
ercises an absolute, uncon- 
trolled power in the soul. 
Rom. vi. 12. 

Grace is said to reign, 
when we are governed by 
the impulses of the Holy 
Spirit. 

' RELIGION, the inward 
and spiritual knowledge and 
belief of divine truth. It is 
manifested in a proper ac- 
knowledgment of God, and 
obedience to him ; and in 
showing proper regard to 
men, chiefly such as are in 
distress. James i. 27. 

REINS, the loins or kid- 
neys. The word is used in 
Scripture, like the word 
heart, to signify the dispo- 
sitions and affections of the 
mind. Psalm vii. 9. Jere- 
miah xii. 2. 

REMPHAN, an Egyptian 
idol. The learned are very 
little agreed who this god 
was. Some are very peremp- 
tory, and others quite de- 
spair of ascertaining. The 
Israelites worshipped this 
false god, calling him Chi- 
vn. Amos v. 26. Proba- 
bly it was Saturn. Acts vii 
43. 

REPENTANCE, grief for 
sin, a change of mind by 
wWch we wish any part of 
our conduct undone. Evan- 



gelical repentance is that 
saving grace wrought in the 
heart of a sinner by the Holy 
Ghost, by which the sinner 
turns from a course of diso- 
bedience, and sincerely en- 
deavours to live unblamea- 
bly before God in the ex- 
pectation of forgiveness 
through the merits of Christ 
Matt. iii. 2, &c. 

REPETITIONS. The 
vain repetitions blamed by 
our Saviour, Matt. vi. T, 
were lifeless forms of prayer 
frequently repeated. 

REPH'AIM, a valley near 
Jerusalem, fruitful in corn. 
Isaiah xvii. 5. It seems to 
have had its name from the 
giants that anciently inhabit- 
ed it. Here the host of the 
Philistines encamped fre- 
quently. 1 Chron. xi. 15. 

REPH'IDIM, a place east 
of the Red Sea, where the 
Hebrews tempted God, and 
quarrelled with Moses, for 
vvantof water. It was there- 
fore called Meribah, conten- 
tion; and Massah, temptation. 
Exodus xvii. 7, 8. 

REPROOF, blame charg- 
ed upon a person to his face, 
or admonition upon account 
of some fault. Reproof re- 
quires the utmost care and 
prudence in the person by 
whom it is administered, os 
it may exasperate and make 
the offender sin the more. 
Unless circumstances impe- 
riously require it, let it never 



RES 



191 



RES 



be done publicly, but always 
in secret. Make it evident 
that the good of the trans- 
gressor is the sole motive of 
your censure ; that it is a 
painful task, to which you 
are urged by a sense of duty, 
and prompted by the most 
tender solicitude for his hap- 
piness. Let not an air of 
self-importance, an angry 
countenance, or a wrathful 
tone of expression, discover 
itself in your rebukes. You 
must feel, and you are allow- 
ed to feel ; but it is to be the 
feeling of Christianity ; that 
is, pity, kindness, and the 
most sincere affection for the 
offender himself. Not his 
person, but his sin, and his 
sin alojie, is to be the object 
of your indignation; and 
every admonition should be 
accompanied with fervent 
prayer to God for his bless- 
ing to Fucceed your efforts to 
do good. " As an ear-ring 
of gold, and an ornament of 
fine gold, so is a wise re- 
prover upon an obedient 
ear." 

REREWARD, the rear- 
guard, Josh. vi. 13. God 
promises to be the rereward 
of his people, defending them 
as they press on their march, 
from unseen enemies behind. 
Isa. Hi. 12. 

REST. (1.) A ceasing 
from bodily labour. (2.) The 
quietness of sleep or death. 
(3.) That peace with God 



and in their own consciences., 
which believers enjoy in this 
world, Matt. xi. 29, arising 
from a great composure of 
spirit, and a cheerful confi- 
dence in the promises and 
providence ofGod. Ps. cxvi. 7. 
(4.) A quite and secure hab- 
itation, such as was promised 
to the Israelites in the land of 
Canaan, which was also a 
type of that eternal rest in the 
heavenly Canaan, where the 
saints shall enjoy a never- 
ending blessedness in the 
presence of God, at the ter- 
mination of all the toils and 
troubles of this life . Heb. iv. 9, 
RESURRECTION, the 
act of rising from the dead, 
or returning to life, com- 
monly means the general 
resurrection at the last day, 
or the end of the world, Job 
xix. 25—27. John v. 28. 29, 
when we must stand before 
the judgment seat of Christ, 
and be admitted to eternal 
happiness, or doomed to end- 
less misery. The doctrine of 
the resurrection was un- 
known to the wisest heath- 
ens, and is peculiar to the 
Bible. They had some glim- 
merings of the soul's immor- 
tality, but no knowledge of 
the reviving of the bod} 7 -. 
The resurrection of Christ is 
a clear and evident proof that 
our debt has been paid, and 
divine justice has received 
full satisfaction. On this 
doctrine of Christ's power 



REV 



192 



RIG 



over death, which was most 
solemnly published to the 
world, is built our faith in 
his promises, and our hope of 
life and glory. Rom. iv. 25. 
A grain of corn sown in the 
earth, is the image made use 
of by our Saviour and the 
apostle Paul to represent the 
resurrection. John xii. 24. 
1 Cor. xv. 36. 

REVEAL, to disclose. 
Christ was revealed when he 
came in the flesh. The wrath 
of God is revealed when sin- 
ners are made to suffer his 
open judgments. 

REVELATION, a discov- 
ery. The sacred Scriptures 
are a revelation, or disclosure 
of God's will to man. The 
last book, however, being the 
declarations of John in refer- 
ence to futurity, is called of 
itself a Revelation, from its 
containing such minute and 
ample predictions of the state 
of the church in future ages. 

REVENGE, to vent dis- 
pleasure upon a person for a 
real or imaginary fault. Men 
revenge themselves because 
they are too easily offended, 
and too much influenced by 
the impulses of pas-ion and 
self-love. But when it is 
said in Scripture, that God 
revenges himself, it means 
no more than that he vindi- 
cates the injuries done to his 
justice and his majesty, to the 
order, he has established in 
the world ; and to his ser- 



vants ; because he is just, 
and^>rder andjustice must be 
preserved. 

RHE'GIUM, a sea-port of 
the kingdom of Naples, about 
opposite to Messina in Sicily. 
It is said to have been origi- 
nally built by a colony from 
Chalcis. Paul doubtless 
preached here at his visit, 
Acts xxviii. 13, though Luke 
does not record the fact. Its 
present name is Regg.io. 

RHODES, an island of the 
Mediterranean Sea, north- 
east of Crete, and ranked for 
dignity and size next to Cy- 
prus and Lesbos, being about 
120 miles in circumference. 
It had its name, Vo^og from 
the multitude of roses that 
grew on it. On this island 
was a famous colossal statue 
standing across the entrance 
of the harbour. The Rhodians 
were famous about the time 
of the Trojan war. The most 
ancient cities were Lindus, 
Camirus, and Jalysus; but 
Rhodes eclipsed all the rest, 
and is still a place of note. 
Acts xxi. 1. 

RIGHTEOUSNESS. (1.) 
That upright life and conver- 
sation, which proceed from a 
pious disposition, inclining us 
to render the worship due to 
God, and be just in our deal- 
ings with all men. It signi- 
fies also, (2) That perfection 
of the divine nature, where- 
by God is most holy in him- 
self, and most just in all his 



RIN 



193 



ROE 



dealings with his creatures. 
(3.) The active and passive 
obedience of Christ. Christ 
is called u the Lord our right- 
eousness," as being the pro- 
curer and bestower of all 
the righteousness and holi- 
ness which believers pos- 
sess. 

RIMMON, or Remmon. 
(1.) A city belonging to the 
Simeonites, about twenty- 
five miles south-west of Je- 
rusalem. Josh. xix. 7. Neh. 
xi. 29. (2.) Remmon-mc- 
thoar, a city of Zebulun. 
given to the Levites. Josh, 
xix. 13. 1 Chron. vi. 77. (3.) 
A steep rock near Gibeah, 
whither six hundred Benja- 
mites fled when the rest of 
their tribe was destroyed. 
Judges xx. 45. (4.) A princi- 
pal idol of the Syrians, wor- 
shipped at Damascus. The 
name signifies elevation ; but 
whether that idol be the E- 
lion, or Most High, of the 
Phenicians, or Saturn, or 
Venus, is not agreed. Per- 
haps he was none of all these, 
but Jupiter Cassius. 

RING. The wearing of 
rings is a very ancient cus- 
tom. Gen. xxiv. 22. It was 
an ensign of authority in 
princes and great men ; thus 
when Pharaoh committed 
the government of all Egypt 
to Joseph, he took the ring 
from his finger, and gave it 
to him. Ahasuerus gave 
his ring to his favourite 
S R 



Haman ; and granted the 
same favour to Mordecai, 
who succeeded Haman ia 
his dignity. It is also used 
sometimes at marriages, as 
an emblem of conjugal fidel- 
ity, and a constant memorial 
of the marriage vow. 

RING-STREAKED, hav- 
ing circular streaks or lines 
on the body, as we often see 
on cattle. Gen. xxx. 35. 

RIVER, a large stream of 
water. The rivers mention- 
ed in Scripture are the Jor- 
dan, Kishon, Jabbok, Arnon, 
Abana, Pharpar, Euphrates, 
Hiddikel, Gihon, Pison, 
Chebar, Ahavah, and Ulai. 
The Nile is alluded to, but 
is not mentioned by name. 
" From the river to the ends 
of the earth," means from 
the Euphrates to the end of 
the then known world. No 
river in Palestine withstands 
the drought of summer but 
the Jordan, and that becomes 
greatly diminished. The 
others, though impetuous 
torrents in the rainy season, 
become mere rivulets in 
summer, and sometimes 
wholly disappear. Hence 
Job compares his friends to 
such. Job vi. 15. 

ROBE. See Raiment. 
Jesus's imputed righteous- 
ness is a robe ; when imput- 
ed to us, it beautifies, warms, 
and protects our souls. Isa. 
lxi. 10. 

ROE, a small species of 



ROM 



194 



ROM 



deer, exceedingly beautiful 
of form, and light of foot. 2 
Sam. ii. 18. Unlike most 
deer, it is not gregarious, 
but lives in families. The 
ancient method of catching 
this animal was by a net. 
Prov. vi. 5. 

ROLL, a book. Ezravi.2. 
Jer. xxxvi. Ezek. iii. Be- 
fore the invention of the 
present improved manner of 
binding, writings were roll- 
ed on a staff, Such are now 
used in the Hebrew syna- 
gogues. 

ROMANS, the first epis- 
tolary book of the New Tes- 
tament. The name of Paul 
is given as the writer of this 
and twelve others ; besides 
which the Epistle to the He- 
brews is generally imputed 
to him. 

ROM E , for a long time the 
most noted city in the world 
It was built by the Etrurians 
and enlarged" by Romulus, 
and a number of men little 
better than banditti, under 
his direction, about A. M. 
3254, that is, about the time 
of Hezekiah, king of Judah. 
It gradually increased, till it 
extended over 7 hills. The 
river Tiber runs through it, 
affording water to the city, 
and carrying off the filth 
which is conveyed to it by 
sewers under ground. Its 
walls seem never to have 
been above thirteen miles in 
circumference ; but it had a 



vast extent of suburbs. In 
the time of Romulus, it con- 
tained about three thousand 
inhabitants, and in the time 
of Augustus, two millions. 
Christianity was early plant- 
ed here, and has continued 
to this day, though for ages 
obscured by Popish supersti- 
tions. Most of its early pas- 
tors suffered martyrdom. 
While the Romans governed 
a great part of the world, 
they were in the habit, eith- 
er for money or good deeds, 
or of free favour, of confer- 
ring the right of citizens on 
some who were not of their 
nation, and even sometimes 
on the inhabitants of a whole 
city. In this sense, Paul 
and Silas were Romans, and 
had a legal title to all tho 
privileges of the citizens of 
Rome, by having been born 
in a free city. Acts xvi. 37, 
38. xxii. 25, 26, 27. The 
present population of this 
city is only one hundred and 
fifty-four thousand ; but the 
territories of the Pope em- 
brace 13,000 square miles, 
and a population of two mil- 
lions and a half. Not more 
than about the third' part of 
what is within the walls is 
now inhabited. It is noted 
for many fine ancient ruins, 
for St. Peter's Church, which 
was one hundred years in 
building, and for the Vat- 
ican, or winter palace of the 
Pope, which consists of 



ROU 



195 



RUS 



about 12,500 chambers, 
halls, and closets, and has a 
famed library, garden and 
arsenal. Its hospitals are 
under excellent regulation ; 
but the inhabitants are licen- 
tious to an uncommon de- 
gree. 

ROOF, the covering of a 
house. The Jews had theirs 
fiat for walking, or erecting 
booths on, and a battlement 
breast high around, to pre- 
vent any one falling from 
them. As this rendered them 
private places, they often 
performed their devotions on 
them. Acts x 9. 

ROSE, the queen of flow- 
ers. From the frequent con- 
nexion of the lily with this 
flower, when spoken of in 
Scripture, it seems evident 
that the icild rose must be 
meant, which in all hot 
countries is extremely beau- 
tiful. Christ is compared to 
it. Song ii. 1. " The wil- 
derness shall blossom as the 
rose," when Christianity 
restores this wilderness 
world to order and beauty. 
Isa. xxxv. 1. In the East 
Indies, an extract is made, 
called " otter of roses," 
which is very costly, and 
the most exquisite perfume 
in nature. 

ROUGH, coarse, rugged, 
uneven. By the powerful 
preaching of John the Bap- 
tist, the " rough places were 
made plain ;" that is, people 



of the most ignorant and 
hardened description were 
through divine grace hum- 
bled, and prepared to receive 
the full truths of Christ's 
mission and ministry. Luke 
iii. 5. 

RUBY, a beautiful gem, 
of a red colour, of great hard- 
ness and lustre, but seldom 
found larger than a grape 
seed. A perfect ruby above 
3| carets in size, exceeds in 
value a diamond of similar 
size. A deep coloured ruby, 
exceeding 20 carats in 
weight, is called carbuncle. 
Wherever the word occurs, 
it should read pearls. 

RUE, a medicinal plant 
common in gardens. It has 
an unpleasant smell, and a 
bitter pungent taste. The 
word occurs in Luke xi. 42, 
only. 

RUNNERS, persons who 
ran before the king's char- 
iot, or bore messages in 
haste. They were employ- 
ed particularly to carry 
tidings to the provinces, of 
the enactment of any edict 
or law. 

RUSH, an aquatic plant, 
common on the banks of the 
Nile, &c. Job viii. 11. It is 
the same as the u Bulrush," 
Ex. ii. 3. Isa. xviii. 2, and 
the rt Paper read,'' Isa. xix. 
7. It is the Cyperus papy~ 
rus of Linn^us ; commonly 
called" the Egyptian Reed." 

The stalk is triangular, 



SAB 



196 



SAB 



rising to the height of nine 
or ten feet, beside three or 
four under water, and ter- 
minating in a crown resem- 
bling the thistle. See the 
picture, article Paper. 

RUTH, one of the ances- 
tors of our Saviour, who 
probably lived in the days of 
Gideon. 

The book of this name is 
thought to have been writ- 
ten by Samuel, and forms a 
sort of appendix to the book 
of Judges. The principal 
scope of the book is to record 
the genealogy of Christ in 
David's time. Compare 
Ruth iv. 18— 22, with Matt, 
i. 5, 6. The adoption of 
Ruth, a heathen, converted 
to Judaism, has been gene- 
rally considered a pre-inti- 
mation of the admission of 
the Gentiles into the Church. 
A further design of this 
book is to evince the care of 
Providence over such as tear 
God. 

RYE, is mentioned Ex. 
ix. 32, and Isa. xxviii. 35. 
The word in the original 
means only bearded, and 
makes it doubtful what grain 
is meant. Some suppose rice 
to be intended. 



SAB'AOTH, a Hebrew 
word, signifying hosts or ar- 
mies Jehovah is called" the 



Lord of Sabaoth," because 
the hosts of all creatures 
are his. Angels, ministers, 
Christians, stars, planets, &c. 
are all marshalled and ruled 
by the Lord God omnipo- 
tent. Rom. ix. 29. Jfemes 
v. 4. 

SABBATH; this word 
means rest. When God 
had made the heavens and 
the earth, in the space of six 
days, he rested on the sev- 
enth, and ordered it to be 
observed as a day set apart 
for himself, or occupied in 
the exercises of religion. 
Though it was really the 
seventh day to God, to man 
who was formed on the eve- 
ning of the last day, it was 
the first, and was kept a3 
such, for ages, though called 
the seventh part of time* 
Gen. ii. 2, 3. In the first 
institution of the Sabbath, it 
was intended to cail to mind 
the wisdom, power, and 
goodness of God, as they 
are displayed in the creation 
of the world ; but after the 
return of the children of 
Israel from their state of 
servitude and hard bondage 
in Egypt, that was urged as 
an additional object of recol- 
lection on the Sabbath-day ; 
and also, as an additional 
motive to its observance. 
The day was at the same 
time changed, to correspond 
with that memorable event, 
and to preserve the Hebrews 



SAB 



197 



SAC 



more effectually from idola- j 
try, by making their day of 
worship different from that 
of the heathen. Deut. v. 
14, 15. Under the Christian 
dispensation, which unites 
Jews and Gentiles, the Sab- 
bath is altered back again 
from the seventh to the first 
day of the week, on which 
the Redeemer himself rose 
from the dead. On the 
" first day of the week," Je- 
sus Christ made repeated 
visits to his disciples, who 
were evidently assembled 
together for religious pur- 
poses. John xx. 19, 26. On 
the first day of the week the 
disciples came together to 
break bread and hear Paul 
preach. Acts xx. 7. Upon 
" the first day of the week," 
the Corinthians were re- 
quired to lay by their con- 
tributions for the pr>or, 1 Cor. 
xvi. 2. And the first day of 
the week is called " the 
Lord's Day," Rev. i. 10. 
The Sabbath is to be sanctifi- 
ed, by a cessation from all 
worldly affairs ; by a remem- 
brance of God in creation, 
providence, and redemption; 
by meditation, prayer, read- 
ing the Scriptures, attend- 
ing public worship, and by 
holy anticipations of that 
eternal Sabbath which re- 
mains for the people of God. 
SABE'ANS, a people of 
Arabia, descendants proba- 
bly of Sheba, the son of Cush. 



It is contended by some, that 
the lt queen of Sheba" was 
from the neighbourhood of 
Abyssinia in Africa. 

SACKBUT, a musical in- 
strument, generally thought 
to have had four strings ; but 
Isidore considers it to be a 
kind of flute or hautboy. 

SACKCLOTH, was a 
coarse cloth, made of the 
hair of horses, and coarsest 
hair of camels and ^oat3. It 
was the common clothing of 
very poor people, and was 
much used for tents, awn- 
ings, &c. Elijah and John 
the Baptist wore such ; in- 
deed, it was anciently very 
common for all prophets to 
be thus humbly clad. Hence, 
the false prophets wore " a 
rough garment to deceive." 
Zech. xiii. 4. lt was also 
ufed by mourners, being of 
a black colour. Isa. 1. 3. 

SACRIFICE, an offering 
to God, made on an altar by 
a regular priest; an oblation 
meant only the simple offer- 
ing of a gift. The justice of 
God required the death of 
the offender ; but, being 
tempered with mercy, it ac- 
cepted a sacrifice in his 
stead. All the sacrifices 
with their several ceremo- 
nies, were either acknowl- 
edgments of sin, or images 
of the punishment due to it ; 
and had a relation to Christ, 
the gospel sacrifice, in whom 
all these types had their ful- 



SAF 



198 



SAL 



filment. They signified the 
expiation of moral guilt by 
the sacrifice of Christ, who 
is called the Lamb of God, 
John i. 29, and the Lamb 
slain from the foundation of 
the world. Rev. xiii. 8. 

SADDUCEES, a sect a- 
mong the Jews, founded by 
Sadoc, who flourished some- 
what more than 200 years 
before Christ, and denied the 
existence of angels and spir- 
its, the immortality of the 
soul, and the resurrection of 
the Dody. They are accus- 
ed, though not with good 
proof, of rejecting all the 
books of Scripture, except 
the five books ofMoses. They 
were strict observers of the 
law themselves, and enforc- 
ed it upon others , but, con- 
trary to the Pharisees, they 
kept only to the simple teft 
of the law, without tradi- 
tions, explanations, or mod- 
ifications, and maintained 
that only what was written 
was to be observed. The 
Sadducees were generally 
persons of wealth and influ- 
ence. Among the modern 
Jews there are few, if any, 
nominal Sadducees; but in- 
fidelity prevails among them 
to a melancholy extent. 

SAFFRON, the crocus, a 
bulbous plant, common in 
gardens. The flowers are 
considered medicinal. The 
word occurs in Cant. iv. 14, 
only. 



SAINTS, converted per- 
sons, Ps. xvi. 3. Phil. iv. 21 ; 
they who spend much time 
in religious exercises, and 
are eminent for piety, and 
zeal in the cause of God, 
Psalm xvi. 3. Hebrews vi. 
10; those blessed spirits, 
whom God graciously ad- 
mits to partake of everlasting 
glory and blessedness, 1 
Thess. iii. 13. Rev. xviii. 24 ; 
the holy angels,Deut. xxxiii, 
2. Jude 14. 

SALO'ME, the wife of 
Zebedee, and the mother of 
James and John. She fool- 
ishly begged that her two 
sons might have principal 
honours in Christ's temporal 
kingdom. 

SALT is in many places 
dug from the earth, but is 
commonly obtained by evap- 
orating sea water. In the in- 
terior of the State of New 
York, it is obtained in vast 
quantities from natural 
springs of salt water. It was 
appointed to be used in all 
the sacrifices that were of- 
fered to God. Lev. ii. 13. 
It is the symbol of wisdom, 
Col. iv. (J; of incorruption, 
Numb, xviii. 19; and of 
maintenance or hospitality, 
Ezra iv. 14 ; where "main- 
tenance from the king's ta- 
ble," may be rendered liter- 
ally " salted with the salt of 
the palace." The Jews 
were accustomed to rub salt 
on new born babes, or bathe 



SAL 



199 



SAL 



them with salt water. Ezek. 
xvi. 4. Large quantities of 
salt put on land renders it 
barren. Jud. ix. 45. Zeph. 
ii. 4. In small quantities it 
serves as a valuable manure. 
Luke xiv. 34. When our 
Saviour told his disciples 
that they were the salt of 
earth, he meant, that being 
themselves endued with 
grace, they ought to season 
others, and preserve them 
from corruption. The truths 
of the Gospel are in opposi- 
tion to the corruption of the 
world, both in respect to 
doctrine and morals. 

Lot's wife was not turned 
into a pillar of such salt as 
we use at our tables, but 
into rock salt, as hard and 
compact as stone. It is said 
that in some parts of Arabia, 
houses are built of this ma- 
terial. 

The salt used by the an- 
cients, was what we call 
rock, or fossil salt ; and also 
that left on the shores of salt 
lakes. Both of these kinds 
were impure, being mixed 
with earth, sand, &c. and 
lost their strength by ex- 
posure to the atmosphere. 
Maundrell, in his descrip- 
tion of the valley of salt, 
speaks of a small precipice 
on the side toward Gibal, 
where he broke some pieces 
of salt from a part exposed 
to the weather, which 
u though they had all the ap- 



pearance of salt, had perfect- 
ly lost its savour ; while the 
inDer part, which was con- 
nected with the rock, retain- 
ed its savour, as I found by 
proof." Compare Matt. v. 
13. Schoetgenius has 
largely proved, in his Horae 
Hebraicae, that such as had 
thus become insipid, was 
used to repair roads, and 
prevent slipping in wet 
weather. This is exactly 
the use said to be made of it, 
in the above quoted passage. 
SALUTE, to address with 
civility. The forms of salu- 
tation vary exceedingly in 
different countries. Among 
Orientals, so much ardour 
is expressed, and so long a 
ceremony used, as would in 
our eyes appear ridiculous. 
When an Arab meets his 
friend, he begins, yet afar 
off, to make gestures indica- 
tive of recognition. Oncom- 
ing up, he shakes hands, 
then kisses his hand, and in- 
quires concerninghis friend's 
health, and that of his fami- 
ly, with great minuteness. 
All this is of course done by 
the other. Sometimes the 
beard is reverently kissed. 
When they separate, to pass 
on, each pronounces a sol- 
emn benediction, as " the 
blessing of Jehovah be with 
you," &c. The later Jews 
were more moderate than 
their neighbouring nations, 
and used different degrees 



SAM 



200 



SAM 



of homage, according to the 
person and the occasion. A 
bow of the head was the 
common civility ; to bend 
the body indicated more re- 
spect ; and to lay down the 
face on the ground signified 
the highest reverence. Ja- 
cob bowed himself seven 
times to the ground when he 
met Esau. Gen. xxxiii. 
When the Prophet sent his 
servant in great haste, to 
raise the dead child, he for- 
bade him to salute any one, 
or answer any salutation, 
because of the time it would 
occupy. 2 Kings iv. 29. 
And our Saviour exonerated 
the seventy disciples from 
such unmeaning waste of 
time. Luke x. 4. Presents 
commonly form a part of 
oriental salutation when a 
visit is made. Gen. xliii. 11. 
1 Sam. x. 4. Matt. ii. 11. 
"When Saul was recommend- 
ed to seek Samuel's aid, he 
thought it utterly improper 
to speak to him because he 
had no bread to offer, but 
went when he found they 
had a quarter shekel, that is, 
twelve and a half cents. 1 
Sam. ix. 7. So small a pre- 
sent was evidently not in- 
tended for pay. A flower, 
or an orange, is sufficient to 
satisfy custom. 

SAMARIA. (1.) The 
country of the Ephraimites, 
or ten tribes. In the New 
Testament, it always signi- 



fies the territory between 
Judea and Galilee. (2.) 
The seat of government of 
the ten tribes, who revolted 
from Rehoboam. It was 
built by Omri, A. M. 3080, 
forty- two miles north of 
Jerusalem After various 
sieges, &c during several 
ages, it was at last laid in 
complete ruins, by Shai- 
maneser. Alexander the 
Great, established a colony 
of Macedonians there. A- 
bout the year 3947, Gabin- 
ius, a Roman Governor of 
Syria, improved it ; and sub- 
sequently Herod the great 
restored it to magnificence, 
and called it Sebaste. For 
several hundred years after 
Christ, Samaria continued 
to be an important city. 

SAMARITAN. When 
Shalmaneser removed many 
of the ten tribes to Babylon, 
he sent in their place Baby- 
lonians ; these intermarried 
with the remaining He- 
brews, and their descend- 
ants were the Samaritans. 
Between these and the pure 
Jews there was a constant 
jealousy and hatred. John 
iv. The name was used by 
the Jews as a term of the 
greatest reproach. John viii. 
48. The Samaritans, like 
the Jews, lived in the ex- 
pectation of Messiah, and 
many of them embraced him 
when he appeared. John iv. 
Acts viii. 1, and ix. 3i. They 



SAM 



201 



SAM 



formerly had synagogues at 
Damascus, Gaza, at Grand 
Cairo, Shechem, and Joppa, 
Askelon and Cesarea. At 
present, their chief, if not 
only residence, is JVaplouse, 
the ancient Shechem, and 
Joppa ; they perhaps do not 
amount to three hundred 
persons in all. They have 
a High Priest, who is con- 
sidered to be a descendant 
of Aaron. Though few in 
number, they pretend to 
great strictness in their ob- 
servation of the law of Mo- 
ses, and consider the Jews 
far less rigid. From the let- 
ter of their high priest to 
Joseph Scaliger, two hun- 
dred and ten years ago, it 
appears that they profess to 
believe in God, and in his 
servant Moses, and in the 
holy law, the mount Geri- 
zim, the house of God, and 
the day of vengeance and 
peace. They keep the Sab- 
bath so strictly, that they 
will not move out of their 
place, except to their syna- 
gogue. They always cir- 
cumcise their children on 
the eighth day after their 
birth. They do not marry 
their own nieces, nor allow 
a pluralitv of wives. 

SAMOON. See Winds. 

SAMOS, an island of the 
Grecian Archipelago, nine 
miles south west of the coast 
of Lydia, in Asia Minor. 
The inhabitants chiefly wor- 



shipped Juno, who was said 
to have been born there. It 
is now inhabited by the 
Greeks, who are very poor, 
and who, though nominally 
Christians, are sunk in ig- 
norance and superstition. 
Here Pythagoras was born, 
and here Lycurgus died. 

SAMOTHRA'CIA. This 
small island of the iEgean 
Sea, is about twenty miles in 
circumference. It derived 
its name from having been 
peopled by Samians and 
Thracians. Its present name 
is Samandraki. 

SAMSON, a judge of Is- 
rael, of the tribe of Dan. 
Dr. Clarke has shown from 
M. De Levaur, that he is the 
original of the fabled Hercu- 
les of heathen mythology. 
He judged Israel 20 years, 
and died 1117 years before 
Christ, aged 40. Judges 
xiii. — xvi. Heb. xi. 32. 33. 

SAMUEL, an eminent 
prophet born at Ramah, in 
the tribe of Ephraim, and 
from his birth dedicated by 
his mother to God's service. 
1 Sam. iii. 1. He wrote the 
books of Samuel, and as is 
supposed those of Judges 
and Ruth. 

Two books of this name 
are found in our canon of 
Scripture. The first book 
of Samuel describes the pro- 
phet's life, and the history 
of Israel under Saul, em- 
bracing a period of about 80 



SAN 



202 



SAR 



years. The second book 
of Samuel contains the his- 
tory of David during a pe- 
riod of nearly 40 years. 
These books, beside their 
other important uses, serve 
greatly to explain the 
Psalms. 

SANCTIFY. (1.) To set 
apart any person or thing to 
a religious use. Thus the 
priests, the offerings, the 
tabernacle, &c. under the 
law, were sanctified, Lev. 
yiii. 10. Thus the Sabbath 
is sanctified or set apart. 
And thus Christ sanctified 
himself, by setting himself 
apart as a sacrifice to God. 
John xvii. 19. (2.) To 
cleanse a sinner from the 
pollution and dominion of 
sin. This commences at 
regeneration ; is wrought by 
the Spirit; is progressive 
during life; makes the Chris- 
tion fit for heaven, and con- 
stitutes his evidence of adop- 
tion. 1 Cor. vi. 11. 2 Thess. 
ii. 13. 

SANDALS, soles of 
leather or wood, tied to the 
feet with strings. As these 
afforded the traveller no pro- 
tection from the dust, it was 
always a necessary act of 
hr spitality to have the feet 
of the guest washed before 
he could retire to bed. John 
xiii. 10. 1 Tim.v. 10. 

SANHEDRIM. The Su- 
preme Jewish Court ; this 
name, though common a- 



mong theological writers, 
does not occur in the Bible. 
See Council. 

SAPPHIRE, a pellucid 
gem, which in its finest 
slate is inferior in value, 
only to the diamond. The 
finest are of a pure blue col- 
our, and others are of va- 
rious lighter shades, even to 
perfect whiteness, resem- 
bling crystal, though of a 
finer lustre. Some are red, 
and go under the name of 
ruby. Such as are reddish, 
and slightly tinged with 
blue, are called amethyst. It 
was the second stone in the 
high priest's breast-plate. 

SARDINE, or Sardius, 
a precious stone of a reddish 
or bloody colour, said to de- 
rive its name from Sardis, 
where the best were found. 
The best now come from 
about Bagdad. It was the 
first jewel in the high- 
priest's breast-plate. 

SARD1S, a town at the 
foot of Mount Tmolus, ten 
hours' ride south of Thyatira. 
It was the capital of Lydia, 
celebrated for its opulence 
and debauchery. Here the 
famous Croesus lived. Ac- 
cording to the Lord's threat, 
its candlestick here has been 
moved out of its place. A 
few Christians were found 
in this place by an agent of 
the British and Foreign Bi- 
ble Society ; but a Mission- 
ary, who visited Sardis in 



SAV 



203 



SCJS 



1826, found no Christian re- 
siding on the spot. It is now 
called Sart. 

SAR'DONYX. A gem 
supposed to partake of the 
qualities and appearance of 
the Sardine and Onyx, of 
which names the word 
seems to be compounded 
Rev. xxi. 10. 

SAREPTA. See Zare- 

PHATH. 

SATAN, the prince of 
hell. The name is Hebrew, 
and means enemy, for the 
devil is the enemy of God 
and man. Much of man's 
wickedness may be ascribed 
to him. See instances, Gen. 
iii. Job i. Acts v. 3. He 
is called " the god of this 
world," for his power in it. 
Unconverted persons are 
said to be under his influ- 
ence. Acts xxvi. 18. Peter 
is called Satan, that is, ene- 
my, because he wished his 
master to avoid that suffer- 
ing to which he was appoint- 
ed. Matt. xvi. 23. See 
Devil. 

SAT'YR, a name given to 
some animal which prowls 
round the ruins of Babylon ; 
probably the ape or baboon. 
Isa. xiii. 21, and xxxiv, 14. 
Some of the ancients wor- 
shipped it as a god. 

SAVE, to preserve from 
danger, or from eternal 
death ; to deliver from the 
guilt, or the power of sin, 
Matt. i. 21. Jesus Christ 



saves his people from sin, 
and from destruction ; and 
having merited their salva- 
tion by his death, he applies 
the purchased redemption, 
by shedding abroad the Holy 
Ghost in their hearts. 

SAVOUR, the smell or 
taste of any thing. The 
ancient sacrifices were a 
" sweet savour unto God;" 
he accepted of, and delight- 
ed in them, as typical of the 
obedience and suffering of 
Christ. Gen. viii. 21. Ezra 
vi. 10. Eph. v.2. 

SCALL, a disease inci- 
dent to the hairy parts of the 
body, as the head or beard. 
It is called nethek in He- 
brew, indicating that the 
hair is plucked up. Lev. 
xiii. 30—36. 

SCARLET, a colour 
much admired and worn in 
former times. It was an- 
ciently produced from a lit- 
tle worm found in warty 
excrescences of a shrub, or 
small tree, called the Ker- 
mes oak. The excrescen- 
ces or bladders, are about 
the size of juniper berries, 
and are caused by the in- 
sect. TouRNEFORTsawthe 
Kermes collected in the is- 
land of Crete, and Bellow 
saw them near Damascus. 
The article is still known in 
commerce in the Levant, 
Palestine, Persia, &c. Ex. 
xxv. 4, &c. 
I SCEPTRE, a staff, 



or 



SCH 



204 



SCO 



wand, signifying royalty. 
Ps. xlv. 6. Rev. xix. 15. 
Anciently kings were shep- 
herds, and hence probably 
this badge took its origin. 
Ez. xix. 11. Esther viii. 4. 
The u rod of the wicked," 
means their power and in- 
fluence. Ps, cxxv. 3. 

SCHOOL, a place of in- 
struction. Each parent is, 
by the obvious law of na- 
ture, bound to educate his 
child according to his sta- 
tion. The association of a 
number of parents to pro- 
cure a person who shall de- 
vote his whole mind and 
time to this subject, seems 
not to have been known in 
the early periods of the 
world. We read of schools 
for the prophets in the days 
of Saul. 1 Samuel xix. 18 — 
24. About the time of Christ, 
eminent doctors delivered 
stated instructions, which 
were attended by the studi- 
ous, whether priests or oth- 
ers. Paul was in this manner 
educated by Gamaliel, the 
most celebrated Rabbi of his 
time. Acts xxii. 3. Each 
great teacher had, of course, 
his peculiar views. Such as 
fully adopted these, called 
him Father or Master, and 
themselves children. The 
exhortation, " Call no man 
your father upon earth," 
means that we are not to 
give ourselves up implicitly 
to any one great doctrinal 



leader, but examine for oar- 
selves. Matt, xxiii. 9. 

SCORPION, a reptile of 
fatal venom, found in most 
hot countries, and so ma- 
licious as to be constantly 
striking at every object with- 
in its reach. In general, 
it does not exceed three or 
four inches in length. Some 
are yellow, others brown, 
and some black. The sting 
is in the tail. It has eight 
legs, and four eyes-perhaps 
more. The torment produc- 
ed by their sting is dreadful. 
Rev. ix. 3, 5. 




In Africa, some grow to 
the size of a very small lob- 
ster, which they resemble 
in shape, as is seen by the 
picture. 



SCO 



SCR 



The south border of Ju- 
&ea, and the desert between 
that and Egypt, was much 
infested with Scorpions. 
Deut. viii. 15. They delight 
in stony places, and in old 
ruins. Wicked men are 
called scorpions. Ezek. ii. 6. 
The statements of some au- 
thors that the only cure for 
its bite is to crush the rep- 
tile on the wound — that the 
young ones instantly kill 
their mother, &c. are ab- 
surd. The folly and cruel- 
ty of Rehoboam in threat- 
ening to rule Israel as with 
scorpions, is very striking. 
What father would give his 
child such a reptile, when it 
" asked of him an egg f" 
Luke xi. 12. The complete 
security of Christ's follow- 
ers is forcibly seen when he 
gives them power to " tread 
on scorpions" unharmed. 
Luke x. 19. 

SCOURGE, a whip, a 
lash ; an instrument of dis- 
cipline or punishment. In 
the punishment of the 
scourge, the offender was 
stripped from his shoulders 
to his waist, and tied by his 
arras to a low pillar, that he 
might lean forward, for the 
convenience of the execu- 
tioners. The law directed 
them not to exceed forty 
stripes; and the Jews, in 
order to prevent the com- 
mand being broken, always 
limited the number of lashes 



to thirty and nine. Deut, 
xxv. 2, 3. When the scourge 
had three lashes, as was 
common, thirteen blows 
made out the " forty stripes, 
save one." This was done 
to Paul five times. 2 Cor, 
xi. 24. 

SCRIBE, a clerk, or wri- 
ter; among the Jews he 
copied, taught, and explain- 
ed the Scriptures. Our Sa- 
viour classes the scribes with 
prophets and wise men. The 
estimation in which they 
were held by the people ap- 
pears in Matt. xvii. 10. 
Mark xii. 35, &c. The in- 
jury done to true religion by 
the traditions of these in- 
terpreters and preachers of 
the law, may be gathered 
from the severe rebuke 
which Christ gave to their 
obtrusive question, Matt. xv. 
2, 3, &c. Our Saviour gave 
various instances of their 
irregular and unjust deal- 
ings. Matt, xxiii. 2, 3, 4, 
&c. He therefore, on the 
mount, warns his audience 
of the dangers they w 7 ere ex 
posed to from such teachers. 
Matt. v. 20. They existed 
as a separate class of men as 
early as the days of Deborah. 
Most of them were of the 
tribe of Levi. 

SCRIP, a bag or purse. 
According to its size, &c. it 
was used for food or for 
money. 1 Sam. xvii. 40. 

SCRIPTURE, that whick 



SEA 



206 



SEA 



is written. The Old and 
New Testaments, which 
contain the whole will of 
God necessary to be known 
for our salvation, are called 
the Scripture, or the writ- 
ings, the Bible, or the book, 
by way of eminence, be- 
cause they far excel all oth- 
er writings. Though writ- 
ten by divers men at differ- 
ent times, yet they all agree, 
as if written by one man. 
" All Scripture is given by 
inspiration of God," 2 Tim. 
iii. 16, " and is profitable for 
doctrine," to declaie and 
confirm the truth ; " for re- 
proof," to convince of sin 
and confute errors ; " for 
correction," to reform the 
life ; and tl for instruction 
in righteousness ;" that is, 
to teach us to make a further 
progress in the way to heav- 
en, or to instruct us in the 
true righteousness revealed 
by the gospel of Jesus Christ. 
in which we may appear 
with comfort before God. 

SCrTH'lA. No country 
under this name, and em- 
bracing the same territory, 
now exists. It comprehend- 
ed Tartary, Asiatic Russia, 
the Crimea, Poland, part of 
Hungary, Lithuania, Swe- 
den, Norway, and the north- 
ern parts of Germany. Col. 
iii. 11. 

SEA, a large collection of 
waters. The Hebrews ap- 
plied this terra to lakes of, 



moderate size ; and the mod- 
ern inhabitants of Palestine 
still retain the same phrase- 
ology. 

(1.) The Sea of Gali- 
lee was anciently called the 
Sea of Cinnereth, Numbers 
xxxiv. 11, or Cinneroth, Josh, 
xii. 3 ; in the time of the 
Maccabees Genesar, 1 Mace, 
xi. 67 ; and in the days of 
our Saviour, the Sea of 
Tiberias, John vi. 1. from 
the great city of that name 
which stood on its banks, 
and Gennesareth, from the 
neighbouring district of the 
same name. Mark vi. 53. 
See Gennesareth. 

(2.) The Dead Sea was 
anciently called the Sea of 
the plain, Deut. iv. 49 ; the 
Salt Sea, Deut. iii. 17, Josh, 
xv. 5; and the East Sea y 
Ezek. xlvii. 18. Joel ii. 20. 
By Josephus and other writ- 
ers it is called lake Asphal- 
tites, from the bitumen found 
in it. The term Dead Sea, 
seems to have been given to 
it from the opinion, (erro- 
neous, though general) that 
no living creature could ex- 
ist in its waters, and that 
even birds fell dead into the 
water in attempting to fly 
over. It is sometimes called 
Sea of Sodom, because it oc- 
cupies the site of that place, 
and the other cities of the 
plain destroyed for their 
wickedness in the days of 
Lot. It is said that the 



SEA 



207 



SEC 



ruins of these cities may 
now be discerned under the 
water when it is low. See 
Dead Sea. » 

(3.) The Great Sea, is 
the Mediterranean, called 
sometimes, the Hinder Sea, 
in contra-distinction to the 
Red Sea, which is called the 
Former Sea. Zech. xiv. 8. 
It may be here remarked, 
that orientals turn their 
faces eastward in various re- 
ligious rites, and commonly 
call the east before, the west 
behind, the left hand north, 
and the right hand south. 
The word beyond, for the 
same reason, means east. 
The Mediterranean Sea is 
about two thousand miles 
long, and varies in breadth, 
from eighty to five hundred 
miles, beautifully sprinkled 
with islands, and bordered 
by fertile and opulent coun- 
tries. No tides are percep- 
tible in it except in narrow 
straits. 

(4.) The Red Sea is that 
arm of the Indian Ocean 
which runs along the south- 
west side of Arabia, and the 
east of Ethiopia and Egypt, 
to the length of nearly twelve 
hundred miles,now called the 
Arabian Gulf. As the Edom- 
ites had long the property 
and use of it for their ship- 
ping, it came to be called the 
« Sea of Edom," which the 
Greeks translated into the 
Red Sea, Edom signifying 



red. Hence originated th© 
mistake, that its water or its 
bottom, was reddish. 

SEARED, burnt off, or 
burnt hard, as flesh is with 
a hot iron. Men have their 
conscience seared, when it 
is so stupified with the load 
of unpardoned guilt, and 
power of inward corruption, 
that it regards nothing, how- 
ever horrid and abominable. 
1 Tim. iv. 2. 

SECT, a party or number 
of persons united together 
under some particular lead- 
er, or who profess the same 
tenets or opinions. The 
Jews, in the time of our Sa- 
viour, were divided into the 
sects of Pharisees, Saddu- 
cees, Essenes, Herodians, 
and Zealots. These are de- 
scribed under their respec- 
tive names, except the Es- 
senes, which are not express- 
ly mentioned in Scripture. 

The Essenes were a very 
ancient sect, spread through 
Syria, Palestine, Egypt, and 
the neighbouring countries. 
They seem to have made 
religion to consist chiefly in 
quietness, and contempla- 
tion ; regarding a serene 
mind as the most acceptable 
offering to God. All agreed, 
therefore, in avoiding the 
snares of cities and traffic. 
Some dwelt in villages, 
practising agriculture and 
mechanic arts ; others, re- 
tiring to deserts, gave them- 



SEL 



208 



SEN 



selves wholly to solitude 
and devotion. They set a 
high value on the Old Tes- 
tament, and addicted them- 
selves to its perusal ; but 
did not practise any of the 
ceremonies, considering 
them allegorical. They re- 
fused to take oaths, but were 
remarkable for uprightness 
and veracity. Their dress 
and diet were plain and 
cheap, their lives inoffen- 
sive ; and in doctrinal views, 
they nearly coincided with 
the Pharisees. Slavery, 
which has always been com- 
mon in the east, they regard- 
ed as repugnant to nature. 

The Tkerapeutce, who 
were numerous near Alex- 
andria, seem to have been a 
branch of this sect, differ- 
in or but little in sentiments 
or habits. 

SEER, a prophet, so call- 
ed, from his foresight or 
knowledge of the future. 1 
Sam. ix 9. 

SEETHE, to boil any 
thing. Ex. xxiii. 19. 

SELAH,a word of doubt- 
ful import. Some suppose 
it to mark the beginning of 
a new paragraph ; others 
that it indicates an elevation 
of voice. It is probably no 
more than a nota-bene, call- 
ing for particular atten- 
tion. 

SELEU'CIA. There were 
several cities of this name in 
Asia. One in Mesopotamia, 



now called Bagdad. The 
Scripture mentions only 
that of Syria, near the river 
Orontes, which was built by 
Seleucus Nicanor, the first 
Syro-Grecian monarch. Here 
Paul and Barnabas embark- 
ed for Cyprus. Acts xiii. 4. 

SENNACHE'RIB,aking 
of Assyria, successor to 
Shalmanezer. The kings 
ofJudah having refused to 
pay tribute to him, he laid 
waste their country. Taking 
part of his army to invade 
Egypt, he left Ralsluikeh in 
the command of the army in 
Judah, whose blasphemy 
and insults we read in 2 
Kings xviii. 19. Hezekiah 
and Isaiah resorted to pray- 
er, and an angel destroyed 
185,000 of the Assyrians in 
one night. The remnant of 
the invaders returned to 
Nineveh ; where, shortly af- 
ter, Sennacherib was slain 
by his sons, as we are told in 
2 Kings xviii. During the 
reign of this monarch, Sev- 
echus was king of Egypt, 
and Deioces king of Media. 

SENSE, means, (1.) That 
faculty of a living creature, 
whereby it receives the im- 
pression of material objects. 
(2.) The impression of an 
object upon the senses. (3.) 
Meaning or import. (4.) 
Common sense, or those 
general notions arising in 
the minds of men, by which 
they apprehend or under- 



SEP 



209 



SER 



stand things alike, or in 
common. 

SEPHARVA'IM,orS E p- 
harvites. They seem to 
have originally dwelt north 
of Media, or about Siphora 
on the river Euphrates. 
Sennacherib king of Assyria 
ravaged the country about 
the days of Hezekiah, and 
after destroying great num- 
bers in battles, colonized 
most of the remainder in Ca- 
naan, where they at length 
became a tribe of Samaritans. 

SEP'ULOHRE, a place 
for receiving the dead. Eve- 
ry vault, tomb or grave, may 
be termed a sepulchre. The 
Jews invariably placed them 
without the cities, as they 
always should be, on ac- 
count of the noxious effluvia 
rising from them. The roy- 
al family only was buried in 
Jerusalem. 2 Chron. xxiv. 
16. Natural caves were of- 
ten used for interment ; and 
in these, thieves and lunatics 
sometimes resided. Hence 
the grave is called a pit. 
Psalm lxxxviii. 3 — 12. Our 
Saviour's sepulchre was 
'* hewn out of a rock;" and 
the door being sealed, it was 
impossible he should he 
stolen wilhout the knowl- 
edge of the guards. The size 
of the stone which formed 
the door was itself an ample 
security. It was *' a great 
stone" that was generally 
selected for this purpose. 



Matt, xxvii. 60. Dr. Clarke, 
in his travels in Greece and 
the Holy Land, informs us 
that " on the reputed tomb 
of Agamemnon is placed a 
stone twenty-seven feet in 
length, seventeenin breadth, 
and four feet seven inches 
in thickness. See Tomb. 

SERAPHIM, or Fiery 
Ones, an order of heavenly 
beings, of the distinct char- 
acter and employments of 
which, we know nothing. 
Isa. vi. 1 — 7. 

SERPENT. There are 
many kinds of serpents. 
The only remarkable kind 
mentioned in Scripture is 
the flying serpent. They 
were called fiery from their 
colour and their venom. Isa. 
xxx 6. Several profane au- 
thors mention serpents found 
in the east, with wings like 
a bat. Herodotus saw them 
at the city of Butus, and 
describes them minutely. 
Bochart quotes many au- 
thors to prove that they are 
the same as the hydra of the 
Greeks and Latins. 

The serpent was worship- 
ped in Chaldea, and other 
oriental nations. See Ad- 
der and Cockatrice. 

SERVANT. The He- 
brews had several kinds of 
servants. (1.) The slaves 
for life ; who were strangers 
bought, or taken in war, 
Lev. xxv. 44, &c. (2.) He- 
brew slaves or bond-ser- 



SHA 



210 



SHE 



vants, who could only at the 
first be bound six years, and 
then were to be dismissed 
with presents. Slavery was 
common before the deluge ; 
and some of the patriarchs, 
as Job and Abraham, appear 
to have owned thousands of 
slaves ; but they seem to 
have been treated with great 
tenderness, and often to have 
had wages and much confi- 
dence placed in them. A- 
mong the Romans they were 
often branded, for security ; 
but this was forbidden to the 
Jews. 

SERVE, to labour, do 
work for, or help a person 
in any employment ; to at- 
tend or wait upon a person, 
in order to obey and assist 
him. To serve God, is to 
obey him, not only by wor- 
shipping him, as required, 
in spirit and in truth, but 
also by studying to know 
and do his will, on all occa- 
sions, however opposed to 
our depraved inclinations, 
or at variance with our tem- 
poral interests. 

SEVEN, a number which 
in Scripture is used so often 
and so remarkably, as obvi- 
ously to have an especial 
import. The term often 
means a perfect or complete 
number. Job v. 19. Lev. 
xxvi. 24. Pa;, xii. 6. 

SHALMANESER, a king 
of Assyria who, succeeding 
Tiglath-Pilezer, began his 



reign A. M. 3267, and reign- 
ed 14 years. He conquered 
Israel when Hoshea was 
king, and three years after- 
ward, finding out a negocia- 
tion with Egypt to set them- 
selves free from his yoke, he 
overrun Israel with his ar- 
mies, ravaged the country, 
destroyed the fenced cities, 
killed many of the inhabi- 
tants, captured Samaria, the 
metropolis, and transported 
Hoshea and the chief citi- 
zens to Media and other east- 
ern parts of his empire, 2 
Kings xvii. Among these 
was Tobit, whose history is 
given in the Apocryphal 
book, which bears his name. 
At this time Hezekiah 
reigned in Judah ; and Sa- 
bacus in Egypt. The suc- 
cessor of Shalmaneser was 
Sennacherib. 

SHAME. (1.) Confusion 
arising from conscious guilt , 
Gen. ii. 25. Ezra ix. 6. (2.) 
Reproach, ignominy, Ezek. 
xxxvi. 6. Prov. ix. Great 
modesty and reserve, is call- 
ed Shamefacedjvess. 1 
Tim. ii. 9. 

SHEBA, or Seba. There 
were several of this name : 
the first was the son of Cush, 
who gave the name to a 
country in Arabia. Gen. x. 
7. Psalm Ixxii. 10. (2. )The 
grandson of Cush. Gen. x. 
7. (3.) The son of Joktan, 
Gen. x. 29. (4.) The grand- 
son of Abraham. Gen. xxv. 



SHE 



211 



SHE 



3. All these seem to have 
taken up their residence in 
Arabia, and perhaps most of 
them in the south part of it. 
One or more of these Shebas 
gave name to the country, 
whose queen came to visit 
Solomon, and brought him 
large presents of gold, spi- 
ces, and precious stones; 
but whether this Sheba was 
situated in Arabia the Hap- 
py, or in Abyssinia, is doubt- 
ful. (5.) The sonofBichri, 
a Jew, who headed a revolt 
in the reign of David. 2 
Sam. xx. (6.) The name of 
a famous well, sometimes 
called Sheba, and sometimes 
Beersheba. Gen. xxvi, 33. 
SHECHEM, a very an- 
cient city, which the sons of 
Jacob cruelly ravaged, to 
revenge the insult done to 
their sister by its prince. 
Gen. xxxiv. Near it was 
u Jacob's well," John iv. 6, 
and his purchased burial 
place, where the remains of 
Joseph, Eleazer, and Joshua 
were deposited. Next to 
Jerusalem, this is perhaps 
the most interesting spot in 
Palestine. Mount Gerizim 
rises near the town on the 
south, and Mount Ebal on 
the north. After the ruin 
of the city of Samaria, She- 
chem became the metropolis 
of Samaria, and was called 
Sychar. Near it occurred 
our Saviour's conversation 
with the Samaritan woman 



which resulted in the con- 
version of so many of the 
citizens John iv. Matthew 
Henry observes, " Shechem 
yielded the first proselytes to 
the church of Israel, (Gen. 
xxxiv.) and it was the first 
place where the Gospel was 
preached out of Israel." It 
was enlarged and beautified 
by Vespasian, about forty 
years after Christ's death, 
and was by him called Neap~ 
olis, or the New City. 

It is, at this day, a fine 
town, containing ten thou- 
sand inhabitants, of which 
about one hundred are nom- 
inal Christians. It is now 
called Naplouse. 

SHEEP, a well known 
animal, of the greatest utili- 
ty, and famed for meekness 
and docility. In Syria, are 
two varieties of sheep. One 
differing little from ours — 
the other, more common 
and more esteemed, having 
a tail of extraordinary bulk, 
often weighing twelve or 
fifteen pounds, and some- 
times much more. It seems 
to consist of a substance be- 
tween fat and marrow, and 
was commanded to be offer- 
ed in sacrifice to God. Lev. 
iii. 9. The wealth of ancient 
kings, and other great men, 
consisted chiefly in flocks 
and herds, 2 Kings iii. 4 , 
and this is still the case in 
some eastern countries, es- 
pecially where the people 



SHE 



212 



SHI 



are few, and pastures luxu- 
riant. Christians are compar- 
ed to sheep , for their inno- 
cence and excellence. Christ 
is << the Lamb of God ;" that 
is, the great atoning sacri- 
fice. John i. 29. 

SHEK'EL, a weight a- 
mong the Hebrews, but its 
precise heaviness is not 
agreed on. The common 
shekel of money, was about 
equal to a half dollar. The 
shekel of the sanctuary was 
double that sum. 

SHEM, the second son of 
Noah, was born A. M. 1558 
His posterity, of which the 
Jews are a part, peopled the 
greater part of Asia. It is 
thought by some that he was 
the Pluto of the heathen. 

SHEM'INITH, a string- 
ed instrument, or possibly a 
species of music. Psalm vi. 
xii. &c. 

SHEW, or Show, an ap. 
pearance or pretence ; also 
any public sight. 

Christ made a shew of 
principalities and powers. 
Col. ii. 15, when he openly 
triumphed over them on his 
cross. To make a i( fair 
shew in the flesh," is to be 
hypocritical by carefully ob- 
serving outward forms, while 
real piety at the heart is not 
sought. 

SHEW-BREAD, was that 
which was constantly exhib- 
ited in the temple. Twelve 
loaves, according to the 



twelve tribes, were, ever/ 
Sabbath day, put upon the 
golden table, to be exposed 
for the whole week. This 
bread was forbidden to be 
eaten by any, except the 
priests ; therefore in the ex- 
traordinary case of David, 
nothing but urgent necessi- 
ty could exempt him from 
sin. 1 Sam. xxi. 3 — 7. Matt, 
xii. 4. It seems to have 
been intended to remind the 
Hebrews of their depend- 
ence on God for daily sup- 
port, and also as an emblem 
of Jesus, the bread of life. 
John vi. 48. 

SHIB'BOLETH, a He- 
brew word, signifying a 
stream of water. Jud. xii. 6. 

SHIELD, an. instrument 
of defence, held on the left 
arm, to ward off blows. In 
Scripture, God is often call- 
ed the shield of his people. 
Princes and great men are 
called shields, because they 
ought to be the protectors of 
their people. Ps. xlvii. 9. 
Faith is likewise called a 
shield, Eph. vi. 16, because 
it derives strength from 
Christ for overcoming the 
temptations of Satan. 

SHIGGAI'ON. A word 
found in the title of the sev- 
enth psalm. It comes from 
a Hebrew word, which sig- 
nifies to stray or icander ; 
whence some conjecture, 
that it denotes the song to 
be various, running from 



SHI 



213 



SHI 



one kind of tune into anoth- 
er, and expressive of great 
anguish of heart. Others 
suppose it to be an instru- 
ment of music. 

SHIGl'ONOTH, seems 
to be the plural of Shiggaion. 
Hab. iii. 1 

SHILOH. (1.) One of 
the names of Jesus Christ. 
The great Deliverer; he 
that frees from the law, sin, 
and death. Gen. xlix. 10. 
It denoles the Redeemer, 
the author of our happiness, 
and our sole peacemaker 
with God. 

(2.) Shiloh, a famous 
city of the tribe of Ephraim, 
about 25 miles north of Je- 
rusalem. Here Joshua fix- 
ed the tabernacle of God ; 
and here it continued at 
least 310 years. 

SH1NAR, the same as 
Chalo'ea; which see. 

SHIPS. Probably Noah's 
ark was the first vessel of] 
this kind ever formed. The | 
tribes of Zebulon and Dan' 
appear to have early engaged 
in commerce. Genesis xlix. 
13. Judges v. 17. Solomon, 
and after him Jehoshaphat, 
set on foot a considerable 
trade by sea. 1 Kings x.22. 
The Trojans were early 
powerful at sea ; but the 
Tyrians and Sidonians for 
many ages were much more 
so: And after them, the Car- 
thagenians. The Greeks 
were also in their turns fa- 



mous by sea. After the 
Saracens had ruined the 
Grecian commerce, the Ve- 
netians and Genoese be- 
came famous in that way. 
About 280 years ago, the 
Spaniards and Portuguese 
became the most commercial 
people. Then the Dutch 
took the lead; but at pres- 
ent, the English carry on 
more business by sea than 
any other nation. 

SH1TT1M WOOD, the 
same as Shitta tree ; much 
used in building the Taber- 
nacle, and in making the 
sacred utensils, &c. ; but it is 
not now known exactly, what 
kind of a tree it was. Most 
probably it was the Acanthus, 
or Acacia vera, which grows 
in all the deserts, from the 
northmost part of Arabia, to 
the extremity of Ethiopia. 
It is about the size of a mul- 
berry tree, the bark of a 
greyish black, wood pale 
yellow, and very hard, 
branches thorny, flowers 
sometimes white, but gene- 
rally yellow, and the fruit, 
which resembles a bean, 
contained in pods, like the 
lupin. Both the wood and 
the flowers have a very 
pleasant smell. From this 
tree is obtained the gum 
Arabic, by making a gash 
with an axe. Its leaves are 
almost the only food for cam- 
els while travelling in the 
great deserts. 



SHO 



214 



SIB 



SHOE, a defence for the 
foot. Among the Hebrews, 
slaves went barefoot ; oth- 
ers generally had their feet 
and legs covered when they 
went abroad ; and women of 
quality wore shoes or gaiters 
of very costly texture. Song 
vii. 1. Ezek. xvi.10. Shoes 
were ordinarily of no great 
value, and so a, pair of shoes 
denotes a very inconsidera 
ble bribe. Amos ii. 6. Sol 
diers often wore shoes of iron 
and brass; and to this day, 
many of the eastern people 
wear iron plates on the heels 
and the fore-sole of their 
shoes. The Hebrews' eat- 
ing of the first passover with 
their shoes on, loins girded, 
and staffs in their hand, im- 
ported that they were im- 
mediately to begin their 
journey. Exo, xii. 11. Put- 
ting off shoes, imported rev- 
erence, and was done in 
presence of God, or on en- 
tering the mansion of a su- 
perior. Ex. iii. 5. Josh. v. 
15. Want of shoes, denoted 
mourning, debasement, and 
slavery, 2 Sam. xv. 30. 
Ezek. xxiv, 17. Isa. xx. 2, 
4. The plucking off a shoe 
and giving it to another, im- 
ported resignation of right 
to him. Ruth iv. 7. To hear, 
or unloose the shoes of anoth- 
er, imports doing for him the 
meanest offices. Matt. iii. 
11. Luke iii. 16. David 
cast his shoe over Edom, 



when he took possession of 
the country, and used the 
people as slaves. Ps. lx. 8. 
cviii. 9. 

SHRINE, a cabinet or 
case, to hold the effects of 
saints, and the relics or re- 
mains of their bodies; also 
the tomb or place where 
pilgrims offer up their pray- 
ers and oblations to the 
saints. Those of Ephesus 
seem to have been small 
models of Diana's temple, 
with her image enclosed. 
Acts xix. 24. 

SHUNEM, a city of Is- 
sachar, about five miles 
south of Tabor. Josh. xix. 
18. In a great adjacent 
plain, the Philistine army 
encamped, while Saul's ar- 
my lay at Gilboa. 1 Sam- 
uel xxviii. 4. 

SHUNEM1TE, an inhab- 
itant of Shunem or Shunam. 

SHUSHAN, or Susa, on 
the banks of the river Ulai, 
in Persia. It is said to have 
been built by Memnon, be- 
fore the Trojan war. It 
was the winter residence of 
the Persian kings from the 
time of Cyrus, being shel- 
tered by a high ridge of 
mountains from the north- 
east wind ; but in the sum- 
mer it was so intensely hot 
as to be scarcely habitable. 
Here Daniel had his vision 
of the ram and he-goat. Dan. 
viii. 

SIBMAH, Shebmah, or 



S1L 



215 



SIM 



Shebam, a cily about half 
a mile from Heshbon. The 
best vines grew about it. 
lsa. xvi. 8. It was original- 
ly the property of the Moab- 
ites, and fell within the lot 
of Reuben. Numb, xxxii. 
38. Josh. xiii. 19. 

SICHEM. See Sechem. 

SIDON, a great trading 
city, and the capital of the 
Phenicians. It was built 
soon after the flood, by 
Sidon, the eldest son of Ca- 
naan. Tyre, 25 miles south 
of it, was built by a colony 
from this city. Both Tyre and 
Sidon lay within the lot of 
Jlsher ; but that tribe never 
expelled the people. Indeed, 
at one time the Sidonians 
overcame all Israel ; and in 
the days of Ahaz they drove 
a great commerce in export- 
ing the Jews for slaves, 
Joel iii. 4. The gospel was 
at the first proclaimed here, 
and flourishing churches 
continued for many ages. 
Some Christians are yet 
found here. It now contains 
16,000 inhabitants, and is 
called Saide. See Tyre. 

SILK is not mentioned in 
the Bible except in Ezek. 
xvi. 10, 13. The original 
word means to drato out 
gently ; and as there is no 
Historical evidence that silk 
was known in the days of 
Ezekiel, it might be better 
to translate the word, very 
fine linen; the threads of 



which are drawn out with 
great care in spinning. 

SIL'OAM, a fountain ris- 
ing at the foot of Mount 
Zion. Its waters were re- 
ceived in two large pools ', 
and what overflowed from 
the lower one passed into the 
brook Kidron. The upper 
pool was sometimes called 
" King's pool," probably be- 
cause his gardens were wa- 
tered from it. Near this 
stood the tower of which 
Christ speaks. Luke xiii. 4. 

SILVER is not mentioned 
as having been in use before 
the flood, nor till the time of 
Abraham ; it was not coined 
till long after, but was used 
in bars, or ingots. Its ore 
generally contains other 
metals, such as lead, tin, &c. 
and must be often purged to 
render it fine. Ps. xii. 6. 
The fine silver of the an- 
cients was found in the 
mines of Tarshish. Jer. x. 9. 
Great quantities of it were 
used in the building of the 
temple by Solomon. 1 Chron. 
xxix. 4. It is put for all 
temporal wealth. Hos. ix. 
6. A siherling, or " piece 
of silver," is the same as a 

Qn p Is pi 

SIMEON. (1.) The sec- 
ond son of Jacob, born in 
the year 2247. (2.) An aged 
saint who embraced the in- 
fant Jesus. It is thought by 
some learned historians he 
was the great Rabbi, with 



SIM 



216 



SIM 



whom Gamaliel, Paul's 
teacher, studied. (3.) A 
Christian minister of Anti- 
och. Acts xiii. 1. 

SIMON. There were sev- 
eral of this name. (1.) Si- 
mon Peter, a distinguished 
disciple of our Lord. The 
Roman Catholics call him 
the Prince of Apostles, 
though Paul seems more de- 
serving of such a title. The 
celibacy of the clergy finds 
no example in his case, as 
we know he had a wife. 
Mark i. 29, 30. 

(2.) The Cyrenian, who 
is thought by some to be the 
same as Niger, the teacher 
at Antioch. Matt, xxvii. 
32. It is said that he was 
afterwards the pastor of 
Bostra, or Bezer, and died 
a martyr for the faith. 

(3.) Simon Zelotes, or 
the Canaanite,one of Christ's 
apostles. Pie was called Ze- 
lotes, because he had been 
one of those Galileans, or 
zealous Jews, who refused 
to pay tribute to the Romans. 
The term Canaanite is ap- 
plied to him, not because he 
was a native Canaanite, like 
the woman mentioned Matt. 
xv. 22, for all the apostles 
were Jews ; but either be- 
cause he was born in Cana 
of Galilee, or more probably 
from the Hebrew word 
Kanaim, which is synony- 
mous to the Greek word 
Zelotes. ! 



Some suppose that he 
preached the gospel in E- 
gypt, Cyrenaica, Lybia, and 
Mauritania, if not also in 
Britain. Others affirm him 
to have been murdered at 
Lunir, in Persia, along with 
Jude. See Zelotes. 

(4.) Simon, the brother or 
cousin of our Saviour, and 
the son of Cleophas. Matt, 
xiii. 55. 

(5.) Simon - , the Pharisee, 
who invited our Saviour 
to an entertainment ; and 
though he omitted the cus- 
tomary civility of giving 
him water for his feet, took 
offence at his allowing Mary 
Magdalene to anoint them. 
Jesus, by the parable of the 
two debtors, convicted him 
of his mistake. Luke vii. 
36—50. 

(6.) Simon - Magus, from 
whom Simony had its name. 
Simony means making mer- 
chandise of ecclesiastical 
livings, &c. 

(7.) There were also 
Simon, a tanner, Acts ix. 
43 ; Simon, the father of 
Judas Iscariot, John xii. 4, 
&c. 

SIMPLE, harmless, free 
from deceit. To be " simple 
concerning evil," is to have 
little knowledge of the art 
of committing it. Rom. xvi. 
19. The " simplicity that is 
in Christ," is either the 
plain self-consistent truth of 
the gospel, or an unfeigned 



SIN 



217 



SIN 



faith in this truth, 2 Cor 
xi. 3. 

SIN. (1.) The name of 
a wilderness bordering on the 
Red Sea. Exo. xvi. 1. (2.) 
Offence against the law of 
God, either by doing what 
it forbids, or neglecting what 
it enjoins. Desiring forbid- 
den things, or disliking du- 
ties, is also sin. It is the 
cause of all misery in this 
world, and of everlasting 
wo to the finally impeni- 
tent. Sins are called tres- 
spasses, because they violate 
the law. When it is said, he 
that " committeth sin is of 
the devil," and is the " ser- 
vant of sin," it means, such 
is the character of those who 
wilfully sin. When it is 
said, the children of God do 
not sin, John viii. 34. 1 John 
iii. 6, 9. v. 18, it means that 
such do not willing!}' sin. 
When they sin, it is through 
the power of temptation, 
and gives them great grief. 
" Thou shalt visit thine hab- 
itation, and not sin," means, 
we must not live in a wick- 
ed manner. Job v. 24. 

Original. Sin, is that 
whereby our whole nature is 
defiled, and rendered con- 
trary to the nature and law 
of God, Ps. li, 5 ; and hence 
the inward part is said to be 
very wickedness ; that is, the 
heart is enmity against God* 
Ps. v. 9. This is the sin that 
dwells in us, Rom. vii. 17, 



20, and works in us all man- 
ner of concupiscence. Rom. 
vii. 8, 23. 

The SIN AGAINST THE 

Holy Ghost, as it rejects 
and tramples on all his evi- 
dence and convictions, is call- 
ed the sin unto death, be- 
cause being never pardoned, 
it inevitably ruins men. 1 
John v. 16. 

What we render sin offer' 
ing, is often the same in the 
Hebrew as what we render 
sin. Lev. iv. 3, 25, 29. And 
the priests are said to eat sin ; 
i. e. with pleasure feast on 
sin-offerings. Hos. iv. 8. 
Christ is said to be made sin, 
that we might be made the 
righteousness of God in him ; 
i. e. he had our sins charged 
to his account, and was made 
a sin-offering 2 Cor. v. 21. 
IPet. ii. 24. Isa.liii. 6. 

SINAI, the mount on 
which Jehovah appeared to 
Moses, and gave the law. 
The Hebrews came to this 
place in the third month of 
their pilgrimage. The law 
was given, it is thought, just 
fifty days after their exodus 
from Egypt, and hence, the 
Pentecost was observed on 
the 50th day after the passo^ 
vei\ This mount stands in 
Arabia Petrea, and is called, 
by the Arabs, Jibbil Mousa, 
or the mountain of Moses, 
and sometimes El Tor, or the 
Mount. It has two summits, 
Horeb and Sinai ; which last 



SIN 



213 



SIN 



is much the highest, and is 
called the Mount of God. 
The ascent is very steep, and 
is hy steps, which the Em- 
press Helena, the mother of 
Constantine the Great, caus- 
ed to be cut in the rock. 
These are now so much 
worn and decayed, as to make 
the ascent tedious and diffi- 
cult. At the top of Sinai, 
there is an uneven and rug- 
ged place, sufficient to hold 
60 persons. Here stands a 
chapel, and near to it, is a 
fountain of fresh water. At 
the bottom in a narrow val- 
ley, is the convent of St. 
Catharine, enclosed by high 
walls without a door, to pre- 
serve them from Arab rob- 
bers. Whoever wishes to 
enter, is drawn up in a bas- 
ket. Here God spoke to Eli- 
jah. 1 Kings xix. 8. Mount 
Sinai, says Niebuhr, has 
numerous beautiful springs, 
but they are not so copious as 
to unite and form streams 
that last the whole year. 
Various modern travellers 
have ascended to the summit 
of this Mount ; but the Arabs 
practise upon them great im- 
positions. 

SINCERITY, pureness of 
mind, without double deal- 
ing. The word is derived 
from the Latin sineerus, com- 
posed of sine without, and 
e erv, wax ; or pure honey. 1 
Cor. v. 8. The Greek word 
HXiKPiviiot translated sincer- 



ity, means an evident purity 
when held up in the light of 
the sun, as we would exam- 
ine water. 2 Cor. i. 12. 

SINGING has always 
been a part of divine wor- 
ship by Heathens, Jews and 
Christians. The gospel not 
only authorizes it by exam- 
ple, Matt. xxvi. 30, but ex- 
pressly enjoins it, Eph. v. 19. 
Col, iii. 16. It should be per- 
formed with an understand- 
ing of its nature and impor- 
tance and with spiritual emo- 
tions. Pres, Edwards ob- 
serves that, " as it is the 
command of God, that all 
should sing, so all should 
make a conscience of learn- 
ing to sing, as it is a thing 
that cannot be decently per- 
formed without learning. 
Those therefore (where there 
is no natural inability) who 
neglect to learn to sing, live 
in sin, as they neglect what 
is necessary in order to their 
attending one of the ordi- 
nances of God's worship." 

Singing was by the early 
Christians usually performed 
in a standing posture. The 
mode of pronunciation was 
clear and intelligible, not 
greatly varying from a re- 
citative tone. Those mod- 
ern times which almost pre- 
clude intelligible annuncia- 
tion tend to defeat the object 
of the ordinance. 

The Jewish hymns were 
accompanied with various 



SLI 



219 



SMY 



musical instruments to assist 
the voices of the Levites. 

SIS'ERA, General of the 
Canaanites, under Jabin II. 
Jael invited him into her 
house, and being instigated 
of God to destroy this mur- 
derous idolater, and devoted 
Canaanite, drove a nail 
through his temples. 

SITE, an obsolete word, 
meaning since, or because. 
Jer. xv, 7. Ezek. xxxv. 6. 

SI'VaN, the third month 
of the Jewish sacred year. 
See Month. 

SLANDER, the uttering 
of false accusations against 
another. It may consist in 
surmises or assertions ; in 
imputing bad motives to cor- 
rect actions ; in partial and 
lame accounts of our neigh- 
bour's conduct; in putting- 
false constructions on words 
or conduct; in magnifying 
real faults; in imputing con- 
sequences to our neighbour's 
conduct, which do not, or 
may not follow ; and in any 
way of speaking, which shall 
be designed to injure one's 
fame, safety, or welfare. 
Christians should be anxious 
to guard against the very ap- 
pearance of this odious vice 

SLIME was used by the 
builders of Babel instead of 
mortar. It is called in the 
Septuagint version asphal- 
tos ; and is bitumen, or a 
kind of pitch. Great quan- 
tities of it are still found in \ 



the neighbourhood of ancient 
Babylon. Herodotus, Dio- 
scorides, Justin, Vitruvius, 
Strabo, Diodorus Siculus, &c. 
speak of its being used as 
mortar. 

The slime pits of Sidim, 
were mud holes or springs, 
out of which issued this liquid 
bitumen, or naphtha. It was 
used in the process of em- 
balming, and was hence call- 
ed " Gummi funerum," and 
"Mumia." See Pitch. 

SLING, one of the earli- 
est weapons invented by man. 
By long practice, wonderful 
skill is attained in the use of 
it, as was the case of the 
Benjamites, who, <; with 
either hand, could sling stones 
at a hair, and not miss.'' , 
Judges xx. 16. 

SMYRNA, a city of Ionia, 
built by the Amazons, about 
40 miles north of Ephesus. It 
was famous as early as the 
time of Homer, whose birth- 
place it claims to be. About 
A. M. 3400, the Lydians de- 
stroyed it ; but it was rebuilt 
300 years after. A Christian 
church was planted here 
very early ; the members of 
which maintained their holy 
faith with such exactness, 
that in the divine epistles 
sent them by John, there is 
no reproof, but praise and di- 
rection. Rev, ii. 8, 9, 10. 
At the time Christianity was 
introduced here, it was in all 
its glory, abounding in wealth, 



SOA 



220 



SOL 



works of art, and schools of 
learning. Persecution soon 
raged against the Christians ; 
but after Polycarp and many 
others had laid down their 
lives for Christ, multitudes 
were converted. It has of- 
ten suffered from earth- 
quakes, plague, fires, and 
war ; but at present, is one 
of the most flourishing places 
in the Levant ; having a 
large and good harbour, and 
sustaining an active com- 
merce with all nations. Dur- 
ing the late revolutionary 
struggle, this city suffered 
dreadfully ; but as Greece 
is now free, it may be ex- 
pected to regain its ancient 
prosperity. By the last ac- 
counts, before the Revolu- 
tion, it contained 100,000 
souls, of which above 10,000 
are Christians of the Greek 
church; 5,000 Armenians; 
the rest are Turks, Jews, &c. 

SNOW falls occasionally 
in Palestine, and always in 
flakes as large as a chestnut. 
Hence the expression, "He 
giveth snow like wool." Ps. 
cxlvii. 17. It was brought 
from the mountains, and sold 
in the hot season, to cool 
wine, &c. as ice is in our 
cities. Its water was con- 
sidered very cleansing. Job 
ix. 30. 

SOAP, a word which oc- 
curs only Jer. ii. 22, and 
Mai. iii. 2. It seems to mean 
some cleansing herb; prob- 



ably the boritk, or saltwort, 
a very common plant in 
Syria and parts adjacent. 
The natives burn it, and 
leach the ashes. The water 
becomes impregnated with 
a strong salt very proper 
for removing stains from 
cloth. There is also an 
unctuous kind of earth called 
" steatites," or soap-earth, 
of much esteem in the baths 
of the east for cleaning and 
softening the skin. Dr. Har- 
ris thinks it probable that the 
two mules' burden of earth, 
taken by Naaman, were for 
this use. 2 Kings v. 17. 

SOCKET, a kind of mor- 
tise in which the pillars of 
the tabernacle were fixed. 
A vast number of sockets 
were made, of which one 
hundred were of silver, a 
talent to each. Exod. xxviii. 
27. xxvi. 37. xxxviii. 27. 
The weight of these sockets 
tended to make the pillars 
stand firm. 

SODOM, Gomorrah, Ad- 
mah, Zeboim, and Zoar, 
were five cities of the Ca- 
naanites. In the days of 
Abraham they had each a 
king. The Dead Sea, or at 
leasta part of it, now covers the 
site of these cities. Jude 7. 
The Scripture account ot the 
overthrow of these cities is 
corroborated by profane his- 
torians, viz. Strabo. Diodoruj 
Siculus, Tacitus, Solinus, &c« 

SOLOMON'S history is 



SOR 



221 



SPA 



full of interest, and amply 
given in Scripture. He was 
the author of several books, 
besides those in the Bible, 
viz. 3000 Proverbs, 1005 
Songs, besides works on bot- 
any, natural history, and 
commerce. 

The Soxg of Solomon - , is 
a sublime mystical allegory, 
representing the reciprocal 
love of Christ and the church. 
In 1 Kings iv. 32, we are in- 
formed that Solomon's Songs 
were a thousand and five , of 
which this is supposed to be 
the chief for length and 
grandeur, or as being inspir- 
ed, and is hence called a 
Song of Songs. 

SORCERERS; conjurers, 
or those who undertake to dis- 
close secrets or foretel events, 
by magical or diabolical pow- 
er. Acts xiii. 8. They claim- 
ed the power of calling up 
departed spirits. 1 Sam. 
xxviii. of inflicting plagues. 
Ex. viii. 18, &c. The dam- 
nation of such as addict 
themselves to the practice of 
sorcery is often declared, Isa. 
xlvii. 9. Rev. xxi. 8, and 
xxii. 15. 

SORROW, inward pain, 
arising from guilt or afflic- 
tion. It is said " the sorrow 
of this world worketh death ;" 
that is, mere distress without 
regard to God and looking to 
him for help, breaks the 
heart, and brings us to the 
grave. " Godly sorrow," is 



grief tempered with reliance 
on God. *• The sorrows of 
hell," Ps. xviii. 5, are troubles 
of great magnitude. 

SOUL, is that spiritual, ra- 
tional, and immortal part or 
substance in man, which dis- 
tinguishes him from the brute 
creation, and bears some re- 
semblance to its Divine Ma- 
ker ; which possesses con- 
sciousness of its own exis- 
tence, and actuates, directs, 
or disposes in all the rela- 
tions of life. The Scripture 
ascribes to beasts a soul, 
which may be a second ac- 
ceptation of the word, as hav- 
ing the same import with 
breath or respiration, which 
is the general principle of an- 
imal life. But the Scripture 
allows to man alone, an im- 
mortal soul, possessing the 
knowledge of God, wisdom, 
immortality, the hope of fu- 
ture happiness and of eternal 
life ; and man alone it threat- 
ens with the punishment of 
another life, and the pains of 
hell. Soul is sometimes used 
for a human creature, or the 
whole person, both soul and 
body. Gen. xii. 5. ActsiL 
41. When the soul and spirit 
are spoken of together, spirit 
probablv means the temper. 

SPARROW, a very small, 
well known bird. It is gre- 
garious and remarkably live- 
ly ; and when lamed, or de- 
serted by its mate, seems 
quite disconsolate. Ps. cii. 7, 



SPE 



222 



SPI 



Sparrows were so cheap at 
Jerusalem, that " five were 
sold for two farthings." Luke 
xii. 6. The care of Divine 
Providence is therefore most 
strikingly depicted when his 
minute attention to them is 
declared. Matt. x. 29. Ps. 
Civ. 24—31. 

SPECTACLE, a public 
Show. The Romans were 
remarkably fond of shows 
and games; and the theatres 
for this purpose w r ere some- 
times very splendid ; gener- 
ally round like our circuses, 
and without a roof. One of 
the common exhibitions was 
to put criminals in the arena, 
and let loose wild beasts upon 
them. Hence the apostle's 
allusion. Heb. x. 32, 33. 
Perhaps when he says he 
(i fought with beasts at Ephe- 
stis." he means literally that 
he was thus exposed. I Cor. 
xv. 32. Those who were 
not condemned to certain 
death, were allowed weapons 
af defence. When the com- 
pany, which was always vast, 
had enjoyed the horrid sight 
Of these contests, in which 
the criminal was generally 
victor, then were brought 
those capitally condemned, 
who were allowed no weap- 
ons, nor even raiment ; and 
were of course soon destroy- 
ed. To the latter class Paul 
seems to compare ministers, 
when he says they are u set 
forth last, as it were appoint- 



ed unto death; bein| made 
a spectacle to the world, to 
angels, and to men." 1 Cor* 
iv.9. 

SPIDER, a venomous, 
cruel and crafty insect, men- 
tioned but three times in the 
Bible, and each time in al- 
lusion to wicked men. Job 
viii. 14. Isa. Ux. 4 — 7. Prov. 
xxx. 28. The story of the 
bite of that species called 
tarantula, being only cura- 
ble bv music, is a ridiculous 
fable." 

SPIKENARD, a very fra- 
grant species of grass, which 
when trodden upon fills the 
air with sweetness. The ear 
is about the size of one's fin- 
ger, and is of a strong smell, 
and bitterish taste. The 
medicinal properties reside 
principally in the root. The 
ointment made of it is very 
precious, and was a favourite 
perfume at ancient baths and 
feasts. Mark xiv. 3. It is 
called by Horace, " un- 
guentum nardi spicatae," and 
contained the very essence 
of the plant. A pound of it 
in the days of Christ, was 
worth 300 denarii, a great 
sum at that time. John xii, 
3. The best spikenard comes 
from India. When cultivated 
in gardens, it attains the 
height of five or six feet. 

SPIRIT, an incorporeal 
being, as God, John iv. 24; 
angels, Heb. i. 14; and the 
human soul, Acts vii. 5$. 



SPI 



223 



STA 



The Holy Ghost, the third 
Person in the adorable Trin- 
ity, Matt, iii. 16; equal in 
power and glory with the 
Father and the Son, 1 John 
v. 7. He inspired the an- 
cient prophets to foretel fu- 
ture events, 2 Peter i. 21 ; 
and bestowed on the Apostles 
miraculous gifts, Acts ii. He 
now quickens, illuminates, 
sanctifies, and comforts the 
people of God. John iii. 5. 
1 Pet. i. 2, and John xiv. 26. 
We grieve the Holy Spirit, 
Eph. iv. 30, by resisting 
conviction of duty ; by living 
in a lukewarm condition ; or 
by abusing his favours, 
through vanity, curiosity, or 
negligence. 2 Tim. i. 6. See 
Soul,. 

SPIRITUAL, means that 
which belongs to spirits. The 
church is a spiritual house ; 
her members are renewed in 
spirit. Jesus is her foundation: 
and his Spirit and grace, 
connect them w T ith him, and 
with one another. 1 Pet. ii. 5. 
Prophets and ministers, are 
spiritual men, because their 
office lios in spiritual exer- 
cises. Hos. ix. 7. God's law 
is spiritual ; it is a transcript 
of the divine nature. It is 
given by the Holy Ghost, 
and extends its authority to 
duties of a spiritual nature. 
Rom. vii. 14. 

Christians are required to 
be spiritually minded: that is, 
to have their joys, exercises, 



objects, and motives spiritual* 
Such as have not this spirit- 
ual-mindedness, are said to 
be dead, while such as possess 
it, have life and peace. Rom* 
viii. 5 — 9. 

SPONGE, a sub-marine 
substance, produced like cor* 
al, by insects who inhabit it» 
Its innumerable and delicate 
cells make it imbibe water 
easily, and as easily part with 
it, under pressure. Matt, 
xxvii. 48. 

STACTE, a fragrant gum 
of amber colour, supposed to 
distil from the myrrh tree. 
The only difference between 
the stacte and gum myrrh, 
seems to be that the former 
oozed spontaneously from the 
tree, and was perfectly pure, 
while the latter was obtained 
by incision, and was general* 
ly less excellent. It is men* 
tioned Ex. xxx. 34. only. 

STAR, a bright heavenly 
body, seen in the night 
Some are fixed, that is, retain 
the same relative distance 
from the stars which sur- 
round them 'j others revolve 
round the sun, viz. planets 
and comets. The naked eye 
can perceive only about one 
thousand. Tycho Brahe 
gave a catalogue of 770 stars. 
The telescope of Mr. Flam- 
stead, enabled him to discov- 
er about three thousand. 
The prodigious telescope of 
Hershel, rendered visible in- 
numerable stars which had 



ST A 



224 



STA 



before been hidden from our 
knowledge. The ancient 
Heathens worshipped the 
Sun, Moon, Mercury, Mars, 
Jupiter, Venus, arid Saturn, 
for planets, i. e. wandering 
luminaries ; and as our fath- 
ers worshipped these, they 
dedicated the several days of 
the week to them, as the 
names they still bear indi- 
cate. But according to the 
new astronomy, the solar 
system consists of eleven 
primary planets, Mercury, 
Venus, the Earth, Mars, 
Vesta, Juno, Ceres,, Pallas, 
Jupiter, Saturn and Her- 
schel; eighteen secondary 
planets, of which the Earth 
has one, viz. the Moon ; Ju- 
piter has four, Saturn seven, 
and Herschel six. All these 
planets move round the sun, 
as well as round their own 
axes; and the satellites move 
round the planets. The}' 
appear luminous by the re- 
flection of the rays of the sun. 
The distance of the fixed 
stars from the sun, renders it 
impossible for them to be il- 
luminated by the reflection 
of his rays. It is thought 
they are equal to our sun in 
magnitude, and only appear 
small by reason of their dis- 
tance. The nearest fixed 
Star is Sirius, or the Dog 
Star, whose distance is sup- 
posed to be not less than 
400,000 times greater than 
that of the Sun. Some stars, 



are calculated to be six hun- 
dred times further than Sir- 
ius ! Hence it takes three 
or four thousand years for 
their light to reach us. As 
new stars have become visi- 
ble in later times, perhaps 
there are some stars whose 
light, since the creation, has 
but now reached our earth, 
though it travels thirteen 
millions of miles in a minute. 
How immense then must He 
be, whom the heavens, and 
heaven of heavens, cannot 
contain ! 

God numbers the stars and 
knows them by their name, 
Ps. cxlvii. 4. We have few 
of their names in Scripture, 
as Chiun, Mazzaroth, Arctu- 
rus, Orion, Pleiades. The 
star which conducted the 
wise men to the infant Jesus, 
was probably a meteor, which 
moved in the air. Matt. ii. 
Jesus Christ is called the 
Morning Star, by a simili- 
tude borrowed from a star 
which usually rises shortly 
before the Sun, as he intro- 
duced the light of the gospel- 
day, and brought a fuller 
manifestation of the truths 
of God, than the prophets, 
whose predictions are now 
accomplished. By stars are 
sometimes meant, the prin- 
ces and nobles of a king- 
dom, Daniel viii. 10 ; and 
sometimes pastors or minis- 
ters of the Gospel, who ought 
to shine like stars in their 



STE 



225 



STO 



lives and doctrine. Rev. i. anee. Matthew xxv. Titu3 



20. The angels are called 
stars, Job xxxviii. 7, who 
joined in extolling God for 
his work of creation. In 
Scripture, an extraordinary 
multitude is often expressed 
under the similitude of the 
stars of heaven. 

STAVES, plural of staff; 
a word not now used. Mark 
xiv. 48. N 

STEEL is iron combined 
with about one part of carbon 
in about two hundred of iron. 
The word occurs very sel- 
dom, and probably ought to 
be rendered brass or copper.: 
It is in fact so translated in 



i. 7. 

STOICKS, a sect of heath- 
en philosophers, founded by 
Zeno of Cyprus, so called 
from his teaching in the Stoa, 
or porch, at Athens. They 
regarded pain, poverty, be- 



Job xxviii. 2. 



in 



and xl. IS, as 
various other 



well as 
places. 

STEWARD, one who 
manages the affairs ot anoth- 
er, and is accountable to him 
for the proper discharge of 
the duties of his office. The 
ministers of Jesus Christ are 
" stewards of the mysteries 
of God," being intrusted 
with the management of 
God's people, and the distri- 
bution of their spiritual food. 
1 Cor. iv. 1. 1 Pet. iv. 10. 
Indeed, all mankind are 
stewards under God, and 
must give an account to him 
of all the talents with which 
they have been intrusted. 
We should therefore attend 
seriously to our important 
charge, and stand prepar- 
ed for our Lord's appear- 



reavement, &c. as only im- 
aginary evils, and the grati- 
fications of life, as only imag- 
inary pleasures, and there- 
fore preserved a cool indiffer- 
ence under all circumstances. 
Paul argued with them 
when in Athens. Acts xviL 
18. Some of Zeno's opinions 
owe their degree of truth to 
his knowledge of the Old 
Testament, and some he 
gathered from the writings 
of Socrates and Plato. One 
of his favourite sayings was, 
that u men, having two ears, 
should hear much ; and one 
mouth, should speak little." 
STONING, the punish- 
ment generally appointed in 
the law of Moses for capital 
offences. The witnesses 
threw first, then all present. 
Deut. xvii. 5—7. John viii. 7. 
STORK, a bird about the 
size of a goose ; but as it ob- 
tains its food by wading in 
the mud and not by swim- 
ming, it has legs two feet 
long, and a neck in proportion. 
It is a bird of passage, Jer. 
viii. 7, and frequented the 
region round Ca.na and Naz- 
areth in great flocks, which 
the inhabitants did not qio- 



sue 



226 



SUN 



lest, chiefly because they ate 
up injurious insects and rep- 
tiles. Such being its chosen 
food, may furnish the reason 
why it was not to be eaten 
by the Israelites. Lev. xi. 
19. It is remarkable for its 
love to its parents. Bochart 
amd Scheuchzer have col- 
lected many testimonies to 
this fact from the ancients. 
Its very name in the Hebrew 
language, signifies mercy or 
piety. In Holland, and else- 
where in Europe, where this 
bird is common, it builds its 
nest in high towers, or on the 
tops of houses. But in Pal 
estine, and such hotcountries, 
where the roofs are flat and 
often frequented by the people 
df the house, the stork builds 
its nest in lofty trees. Ps. civ. 
17. 

STUBBLE. the stalks 
left in a field of grain which 
has been reaped. Stubble 
is of little value; of no 
strength or force ; is easily 
scattered by the wind ; and 
easily burnt. Job xiii. 25, 
xli. 29. xxi. 18. Joel ii. 5. 
To it wicked men are com- 
pared. Ps. Ixxxiii. 14. Isa. 
xl. 24. Mal. iv. 1. False 
doctrines are as stubble, of 
no worth; of no force to con- 
vince or comfort men's con- 
sciences, and cannot abide 
the trial of God's word. 1 
Cor. iii. 12. 

SUCCOTH means tents. 
There were two places of 



this name. (1.) In Egypt 
where the Hebrews first set 
up their tents. Exod. xii. 37. 
(2.) A city east of Jordan, and 
south of the sea of Galilee, 
where Jacob set up his tents 
or succoth, as he came from 
Pad an- a ram. Gen. xxxiii. 
17. It seems probable that 
in the valley near it, Hiram 
cast the large utensils for the 
temple. Psalm lx. 6. 1 
Kings vii. 46. 

SUMMER, the warm sea- 
son of the year. Gen. viii. 
22. In countries north of 
the equinoctial line, it begins 
in June, and ends in Sep- 
tember. South of the equi- 
noctial, it begins in Decem- 
ber, and ends in March. 
Seasons of prosperity, and of 
opportunities of salvation, are 
called summer. Prov. x. 5. 
Zech. xiv. 8. 

SUN, the great source of 
light and heat; brought into 
existence on the fourth day 
of creation. The diameter 
of the sun is about 800,000 
miles. His distance from our 
earth is ninety-five millions 
of miles ; so that light, which 
flies at the inconceivable 
swiftness of two hundred 
thousand miles in a second, 
requires eight minutes to 
reach our earth ! A cannon 
ball, shot thence, and moving 
with unabated swiftness, viz. 
(according to Durham,) a 
mile in eight and a half sec- 
onds, would take about thirty 



SUN 



227 



SUP 



yenrs to reach our earth! 
The spots which often appear 
on the sun have never been 
satisfactorily accounted for. 
Herschel thought them to 
arise from chasms in the 
sun's atmosphere, caused 
temporarily by the ascent of 
gasses. Three miraculous 
events are related of the sun. 
It stood still at the command 
of Joshua. Chap. x. 12. It 
returned back in the time of 
king Hezekiah. 2 Kings xx. 
11. It was involved in dark- 
ness, at the time of our Sa- 
viour's crucifixion, though 
the moon was full, which 
proves it was not an ordinary 
eclipse. Matthew xxvii. 
45. Multitudes, from the 
brightness and usefulness of 
the sun, have worshipped 
him, under the characters of 
Baal, Chemosh, Moloch, 
Phcebus, &c. Even with the 
Jews, the worship of the sun 
was practised ; and Josiah 
had to take away the horses, 
and burn the chariots, con- 
secrated in the temple to the 
sun. 2 Kings xxiii. 11. Af- 
ter his death, we again find 
the Jews worshipping the 
sun. Ezek. viii. 16. " From 
the rising to the setting of 
the sun," imports the whole 
world over. Ps. cxiii. 3. 
u Before the sun," or u in the 
face of the sun,' imports the 
most daring, public, and open 
manner. Jer. viii. 2. Numb. 
xxv. 4. To continue while 



the " sun and moon endure," 
is to last very long, or forev- 
er. Ps. Ixxii. 5, 17. Christ 
is called the "Sun of Righte- 
ousness," as he enlightens-, 
quickens, and comforts his 
people. u A woman clothed 
with the sun," and the moon 
under her feet, signifies the 
church, clothed with the 
righteousness of Christ, and 
rising superior to worldly 
thinas. Rev. xii. 1. 

SUPERSCRIPTION, that 
which is written on the top 
or outside of any thing. Mat. 
xxii. 20. It was the custom 
of the Romans to write on a 
tablet or board, the crime for 
which any man suffered 
death. This tablet, they 
carried before ihe offender 
to the place of execution, 
and fastened it over his head, 
that all might read his trans- 
gression, and beware of vio- 
lating the laws of their coun- 
try. Hence the superscrip- 
tion written over the head of 
Jesus Christ, as recorded by 
all the Evangelists. . Mat- 
thew xxvii. 37. 

SUPERSTITION, foolish 
fears, extravagant fancies, o? 
mistaken devotion in divine 
worship ; the performance of 
uncommanded rites ; and ex- 
travagant dependence on 
such as are of Divine institu- 
tion ; or too much ceremony 
in religion, without due re* 
gard being paid to the attain* 
ment of inward holiness, ac» 



SUR 



228 



SWE 



companied by a correct moral 
conduct. Idolatry is a super- 
stition. Acts xvii. 22. Those 
are superstitious who are 
alarmed at the howl of a dog, 
the spilling of salt, or who 
fear ghosts, witches, &e. A 
proper regard to the Divine 
government would assure us 
of our perfect safety from al! 
evil, so long as we trusted in 
God and obeyed him. 

SUPPER, was an impor- 
tant meal with the ancients, 
Mark vi. 21. Luke xiv. 
12—24. John xii. 2. Rev. 
xix. 9—17. 

After eating the Passover, 
our Saviour instituted that 
solemn ordinance which is 
called « the Lord's Supper," 
1 Cor. xi. 20. 

In this rite we spiritually 
feed upon Christ the living 
bread, Rom. iii. 20. 1 Cor. 
xi. It is called the commun- 
ion because we therein com- 
mune both with Christ and 
our brethren. The Lord's 
Supper is not a sacrifice, as 
the Roman Catholics regard 
it, but a commemoration. It 
is to be observed till the end 
of the world, 1 Cor. xi. 26. 
None are to partake, but 
such as have been baptized 
and maintain a credible 
fession of religion. 

SURETY," one who be- 
comes bound for another. 
Sins are called debts, Matt. 
vi. 12, and Jesus Christ is 
called the surety. II eb. vii. 



pro- 



22. Christ fulfilled the law 
by the holiness of his life, 
and underwent the penalty 
when he offered up himself 
a sacrifice to satisfy divine 
justice. The Scripture for- 
bids suretyship, or engage- 
ment for the payment of 
another person's debt. Prov. 
xxii. 26. xi. 15. 

SWALLOW, a small bird, 
nearly black, which migrates 
to warmer countries every 
winter ; but returns, often to 
the very nest occupied be- 
fore, which it constructs 
generally under the eaves of 
houses, in chimnies, &c. It 
seems some had their nests 
round the ceilings of the 
temple. Ps. Ixxxiv. 3. In 
countries not very cold, swal- 
lows often venture to remain 
during winter, and fixing 
themselves in caves or clefts 
of mountains, or secluded 
buildings, become torpid. 
But it is not true, that they 
conceal themselves under 
water or in marshes. 

SWAN. The Hebrew 
word so rendered, is very 
ambiguous, and is translated 
Lev. xi. SO, mole. The Sep- 
tuagint render it, " Ibis ;" and 
Parkhurst considers it to be 
the goose, because the word 
imports breathing in a strong 
manner, or hissing, as the 
goose is known to do. It 
occurs Levit. xi. IS, and 
Deut. xiv. 16. 
SWEAR, to make a sol- 



SWI 



229 



SYN 



emn appeal to Almighty 
God, desiring his mercy and 
protection, no otherwise, 
than as the matter or thing 
affirmed is true or false ; to 
declare, promise, or give ev- 
idence upon oath. We ought 
never to swear but upon very 
urgent necessity, and to se- 
cure some considerable good. 
Our Saviour, who came into 
the world not to destroy the 
law, but to fulfil it, forbade 
all profane oaths. Matt. v. 
34. But he is not thought 
by learned men to have tor- 
bidden solemn swearing in 
a court of justice. On the 
contrary, his answering, 
when adjured by the High 
Priest, is generally consider- 
ed in the light of an oath. 
See Oath. 

SWINE, the plural of hog. 
It was not only ranked among 
unclean animals by the Le- 
viticai law, but by the strict 
Jews was regarded as impure 
and detestable in the highest 
degree. They would not so 
much as pronounce its name, 
but called it "the strange 
thing." The herds of swine 
kept in the country of the 
Gergesenes, were probably 
intended to supply idolaters 
with food and victims ; and 
was a gross violation and 
contempt of the law of Moses. 
Matt. viii. 30—32. The 
sottish slavery of persons 
devoted to sensuality, and 
their con temptous rejection 



of reproof, is strikingly indi- 
cated by their being compar- 
ed to swine, trampling pearls 
under their feet. Matt. vi. 6. 

SYCAMINE. Critics do 
not agree whether or not, 
this is the same tree as the 
Sycamore. Much learning 
has been displayed by Hil- 
ler and Celsius to prove it 
to be the morus or mulber- 
ry tree. Luke xvii. 6, only. 
SYCAMORE, a tree which 
partakes of the properties 
both of the fig and mulberry. 
The Egyptians seem to be 
more fond of its fruits than 
any other people. It is said 
to produce seven crops a 
year. We find in 1 Chron. 
xxvii. 28, that the Jews priz- 
ed it. It attains a great size, 
three men sometimes not be- 
ing able to grasp one. It is 
always green. The fruit is 
about the size of a fig, and is 
often called by that name. It 
is remarkable that the fruit 
does not grow on the branches 
and twigs, but on the trunk 
of the tree, attached by sprigs 
like grape stalks. The wood, 
though coarse in grain, is 
remarkable for durability. 
Mummy chests, &c. found 
in the catacombs by Dr. 
Shaw, were of sycamore, and 
had remained sound for 3,000 
years. This tree abounded 
in Palestine. 1 Kings x. 27. 

SYNAGOGUE, an as- 
sembly among the Jews for 
religious worship. The place 



S YN 



230 



SYR 



where they met to pray, to 
read, and to hear the reading 
of the Holy Scriptures, and 
otherinstructions; and where 
by sermons and exhortations 
delivered to them, by proph- 
ets formerly, and afterwards 
by the doctors or teachers, 
the people were kept in the 
knowledge of God and his 
laws. They began to be 
used about the time of Ezra, 
and were very useful in keep- 
ing up a knowledge of God 
among the people. There 
was a council or assembly of 
grave and wise persons, well 
versed in the law, who had 
the care of all things belong- 
ing to the service of the syn- 
agogue, and the manage- 
ment of certain judicial af- 
fairs ; over whom was set a 
president, called the " ruler 
of the synagogue." Luke 
viii. 41. As there was but 
one temple, and to this a re- 
sort was to be had but thrice 
a year, and then by the males 
only, such a mode of keeping 
the Sabbath became indis- 
pensable. Soon after the cap- 
tivit}', the Jews had great 
numbers of synagogues, 
which increased, till there 
were about 480 of them in 
Jerusalem. Every trading 
fraternity had their syna- 
gogues ; and companies of 
strangers, as Alexandrians, 
Cyrenians, and others, had 
theirs for public prayer, and 
for reading the Scriptures. 



Our Saviour and his Apos- 
tles found the synagogues 
very convenient places for 
proclaiming the good news 
from heaven. 

There are now in the Unit- 
ed States, Jive synagogues, 
via. in Newport, New York, 
Philadelphia, Richmond, and 
Charleston. The congrega- 
tions in each are small. 

SYRACUSE, a famous 
city, called also Saragassa, 
on the southeast of Sicily, 
22 miles in circumference. 
It was founded A. M. 3269, 
and was once the largest and 
richest city of the Greeks. 
Archimedes, with astonishing 
inventions,defended the place 
from the Romans; but it 
was taken, and he was slain, 
about B. C. 208. The Sara- 
cens seized it, A. D. 675; 
but in 1090 it was taken from 
them by Roger, duke of 
Apulia. Here Paul tarried 
three days, as he went pris- 
oner to Rome. Christianity 
was early planted here, and 
still continues, at l^ast in 
name- The city has wholly 
lost its ancient splendour. 
Acts xxviii. 12. 

SYRIA, or Aram. The 
Syrians descended from 
Aram, and possessed Meso- 
potamia, Chaldea, and part 
of Armenia. But Syria Pro- 
per had the Mediterranean 
Sea on the west, Cilicia on 
the north, the Euphrates on 
the east 3 and Canaan and part 




THE TABERNACLE, 




THE COURT OF TU2, TASERNACLS. 



SYR 



233 



TAB 



of Arabia the Desert, on the 
south. Its good soil and noble 
rivers, Euphrates, Orontes, 
Casshnere, Adonis, Barrady, 
&c. rendered it a most de- 
lightful country. It was di- 
vided into various provinces, 
which derived their names 
from their situation and cir- 
cumstance. 

Ccelo-Syria, included 
the valley between the ridges 
ofLibanus and Anti- Libanus. 
The word often occurs in the 
books of Maccabees, and sig- 
nifies Syria the Hollow. 

Syria of Damascus was 
a section stretching eastward 
along Mount Libanus, and of 
which Damascus was the 
capital. Its limits varied ac- 
cording as its princes were 
more or less powerful. Isa. 
vii. 8. 

Syria of Rehob was 
that part of which Rehob 
was the metropolis. 2 Sam. 
x. 6. It bordered Palestine, 
and was given to Asher. 
Josh. xix. 23. 

Syria of Zoba was prob- 
ably the same as Hollow 
Syria. 

Syria of Maacah lay 
beyond Jordan towards Leb- 
anon, and was given to Ma- 
nasseh. 2 Sam. x. 6. Deut. 
fii. 14. It is called Abelbeth- 
Maacah. 2 Kings xv. 29. 

Tob, or Ishtob, was a 
province of Syria in the , 
neighbourhood of 
Jud. xi. 3, 5. 

U 



Syria, without any other 
appellation, stands for the 
whole kingdom of Syria ; of 
which Jltitioch became the 
capital, after the reign of the 
Seleucidae, before which the 
name is seldom used alone. 

SYRO-PHCENICIA was 
either that part of Phoenicia 
bordering on Syria, or per- 
haps the whole of Phoenicia, 
which by conquest had been 
united to Syria. The people 
were originally Canaanites. 
Gen. x. 15. Mark vii. 26. 
Matt. xv. 22— 2S. 



T. 



TABERNACLE. (I.) A 
tent, or slight temporary 
building made to be carried 
from place to place as occa- 
sion required. (2.) That 
particular tent in which the 
Israelites performed their re- 
ligious exercises, while in 
the wilderness. It was call- 
ed " the Tabernacle of the 
Congregation." Exo. xxxiii. 
7. Here, till the building of 
the temple, was kept the ark 
of the covenant, which was 
a symbol of God's gracious 
presence with the Jewish 
church. Exod.xxvi.l. Heb. 
ix. 2, 3. A tolerable idea of 
the tabernacle may be ob- 
tained from the picture. The 
Libanus. [court was 150 feet long and 
1 75 broad. The curtains round 



TAB 



234 



TAB 



it were 8 feet high, sustained 
by 56 pillars. Within this 
area was the tabernacle, the 
altar of burnt-offering, and 
the brazen laver. The tab- 
ernacle or sacred tent was 
towards the west end, 45 feet 
lon^ and 15 broad. A curtain 
divided it into two apart- 
ments, the eastern one, call- 
ed the Most Holy Place, be- 
ing 15 feet square. Within 
the Holy Place were the altar 
of incense, the candlestick, 
and the table of shew-bread. 
Within the Holy of Holies, 
was the ark of the covenant, 
with its mercy -seat, and over- 
shadowing cherubims, be- 
tween which rested the she- 
kinah, or visible glory. See 
Ark. 

It was a splendid and cost- 
ly structure ; but having 
been removed often, it be- 
came entirely worn out by 
the time Solomon's temple 
was ready. 

The Feast of Tabernacles 
was celebrated after the har- 
vest, in remembrance of their 
having dwelt in tents in the 
the wilderness. They re- 
turned thanks to God for the 
fruits oi the earth, and were 
put in mind, that they were 
only pilgrims and traveller; 
in this world, Lev. xxiii.34. 
It lasted eight days, during 
which the people dwelt in 
booths, or tents, erected in 
the fields, or streets, and on 
tops of their houses. 



The tabernacle was a type 
of Christ's human nature, 
wherein God dwells person- 
ally. Heb. viii. 2. ix. 11. 
The natural body is the tab- 
ernacle of the soul. 2 Cor. 
v. 1. 2 Pet. i. 13. The 
' ; tents of Judah," are such 
Jews as dwelt in unfortified 
cities. Zech. xii. 7. The 
church's " tent was enlarg- 
ed," and " her curtains 
stretched out," her "cords 
lengthened," and her" stakes 
strengthened," when the 
Gentiles were converted to 
Christ, and her gospel state 
established. Isa. liv. 2. " The 
tabernacle of God is with 
men," when they enjoy his 
eminent fellowship and fa- 
vour. Rev. xxi. 3. The 
church and her true mem- 
bers are like " the tents of 
Kedar ;" their outward ap- 
pearance is mean and despi- 
cable, and their condition in 
this woild very unsettled. 
Song i. 5. 

TABLE. The Jewish ta- 
ble mostly in use, was proba- 
bly that now common in the 
east, viz. a circular piece of 
leather spread on the floor, 
on which the food is laid, 
while those who partake, sit 
round with their leg* crossed. 
Among those in high life, 
each guest had his separate 
table and mess. 

When the Jews returned 
from captivity, they brought 
with them tiie more refined 



TAC 



235 



TAL 



Persian method of eating, 
which was to have a table 
like ours, only shaped like 
a horse shoe, or three sides 
of a square. Against these 
were placed not chairs, but 
couches, with their end to 
the table. The body re- 
clined on these, propped by 
the left arm. The open 
space in the centre enabled 
the servants to perform their 
duty. Such a posture ena- 
bled Mary to come behind 
Christ to wash and anoint 
his feet. See the Frontis- 
piece, whence a true idea 
may be formed of this ancient 
mode of eating. 

TABOR. (I) A conical 
mountain in Galilee. Josh, 
xix 12, 22. It is about two 
miles high, and on the top is 
a beautiful plain about a 
mile in circumference, and 
enclosed with trees, except 
towards the south. From 
the top is one of the most de- 
lightful prospects in the 
world. On this mount, Ba- 
rak assembled his army, and, 
at the foot of it, defeated the 
hostofJabin. Judg. iv. 6,8. 
It is thought by some that 
here our Saviour was trans- 
figured. (2.) Tabor was also 
the name of a city given by 
the Zebulonites to the Le- 
vites of Merari's family, 1 
Chron. vi. 77; and of a place 
near Bethel. 1 Sam. x. 3. 

TABRET. See Timbrel. 

TACHES, loop3 or clasps, 



by which the curtains of the 
tabernacle were buttoned. 
Ex. xxvi. 6. 

TADMOR, a noble city in 
the norlh of Canaan. Its vi- 
cinity was exceedingly fer- 
tile, though at a little greater 
distance all was a sandy des- 
ert. Here lived Longinus. 
It is now famous only for its 
ruins. About 30 poor fami- 
lies constitute its whole pop- 
ulation. The modern name 
of the town is Palmyra. 

TALENT, a Jewish coin 
or weight. Money of specific 
current value was not known 
in early times ; but gold and 
silver were weighed out 
when purchases were made. 
Gen. xxiii. 16, and xxxvii. 
28. Jer. xxxii. 10. The 
Jews did not besrin to coin 
money till about 150 years 
before Christ. It is not quite 
clear what wa3 the exact 
value of the talent. That of 
silver was probably some- 
where near 2,000 dollars, 
and that of gold about 30,000. 
Whatever gifts or opportuni- 
ties God gives to men for 
their usefulness are called 
talents. To some he gives 
these in greater, and to oth- 
ers in less proportion ; but all 
ought to improve what they 
receive, for of all will a strict 
account be exacted. Matt, 
xxv. Luke xix. When our 
Saviour speaks in a parable, 
of the obligations we owe to 
God, and those which men 



TAR 



226 



TAR 



owe to each other, he calls 
the first ten thousand talents, 
and the last a hundred pence, 
&trikingly teaching us how 
small our offences are to one 
another, compared to those 
we commit against God. 
Matt, xviii. 24—28. 

TAMMUZ,orThammuz, 
an Egyptian Deity, thought 
by some to be same as Apis, 
or Serapis, or Osiris, (three 
names for the same god) and 
by others to be the same as 
Adonis, vshose untimely 
death was honored by an an- 
nual mourning, Ezek. viii. 14. 

The 10th month of the 
Jewish civil year, bore also 
this name, Jer. xxxix. 2. 

TAP£STRY,cloth wrought 
into figures in the loom, or 
with the needle. It was used 
in the east, as early as the 
time of Solomon. The cru- 
saders seem to have intro- 
duced the art of making it 
into Europe, about 600 years 
ago. The English and Flem- 
ish first distinguished them- 
selves in making it. It was 
used to cover beds and to or- 
nament rooms, but is now 
happily become unfashiona- 
ble, as its beauty is not equal 
to the time and pains it re- 
quires. Its figures are fre- 
quently formed with threads 
of gold. Prov. vii. 16. 

TARES, a weed injurious 
*o grain, both by occupying 
space, and by the seed being 
unwholesome. In this coun- 



try the wheat fan gets out 
the tare seed ; but the an- 
cient fan could no*. [See 
Fan.] On this account they 
pulled up the tares, or sepa- 
rated them before threshing, 
when the best flour was to be 
made. Mr. Fisk the mis- 
sionary, found on the plains 
round Ephesus, some Greek 
men and women employed 
in the fields of grain, pulling 
up tares Matt. xiii. 28L 
Travellers in Syria have seen 
the reapers separate the tares 
from the wheat as they pro- 
ceeded, and bind them in sep- 
arate bundles. Matt. xiiL 
30. Sometimes a sieve is 
used. Thus Satan desired to 
sift Peter as wheat. Luke 
xxii. 31. 

TARSHISH,or Tarsus. 
There appear to have been 
several places called by this 
name, viz. 

(1.) Tarsus in Cilicia, 
which was the capital of that 
country, and stood on the 
river Cydnus, about six 
miles from the sea, built, 
Strabo says, by Sardanapa- 
lus, the king of Assyria. It 
is said to have once excelled 
even Athens and Alexandria 
in learning; those cities, and 
even Rome itself, being in- 
debted to it for their best pro- 
fessors. Julius Cesar, and 
afterward Octavius, delighted 
to honour it. and granted its 
citizens the same privileges 
as those of Rome : and hence 



TEM 



237 



TEM 



Paul was here u free born." 
To evince their gratitude, the 
inhabitants called their city 
Juliovolis, or the city of Ju- 
lius. This city at present is 
of no importance ; but Chris- 
tianity, planted here by Paul, 
has never since been wholly 
extinct. Its present name is 
Trassa. * 

(2.) The name seems to be 
applied to Spain. Psalm 
Ixxii. 10. 

(3.) A place on the east of 
Africa, not far from Ophir. 
1 Kings x. 22. 

(4.) Carthage. Isaiah 
xxiii. 6. 

TEIL-TREE, the same as 
the linden. Its leaf resembles 
laurel, and its flower that of 
the olive. Isa. vi. 13. The 
original word is every where 
else rendered Oak. 

TE'KEL, a Chaldee word, 
signifying, Thou art iccighed. 
See Upharsin. 

TEKO'A, a city ofJudah, 
twelve miles south-east of 
Jerusalem. Around it was 
an extensive wilderness, or 
pasture land, and forest 
Amos, the prophet, kept a 
herd here, before his call to 
the ministry. Amos i. 1. 

TEM AN, a grandson of 
Esau, from whom descended 
the Temanites, Job iv. 1. 
The land of Edom is so call 
ed, Jei . xlix. 20. Amos i. 12. 

TEMPERANCE, moder- 
ation; that command over 
ourselves, which enables us 



to abstain from excessive 
eating, drinking, or any other 
enjoyment. It is opposed to 
every excess, by which the 
mental faculties are becloud- 
ed, or the moral habits ren- 
dered unchaste. Luke xxi. 
34. Phil. iv. 5. Intemper- 
ance in the use of ardent 
spirits had become awfully 
prevalent in this country, 
and threatened entire ruin, 
till of late vast numbers of 
_ iod men, alarmed at the 
approaching crisis, rose to 
check the spreading evil. 
Associations were formed — 
newspapers established — a- 
gents employed — tracts cir- 
culated — addresses deliver- 
ed, &c. ; and by the blessing 
of God, the growth of the 
evil is not only checked, but 
a good measure of reform 
produced. It is the purpose 
of those who began to sound 
the alarm, not to cease till 
such liquors are only used as 
a medicine, according to the 
Scriptures. Prov. xxxi. 6. 

TEMPLE. The house 
built at Jerusalem for the 
worship of God. The pre- 
parations for this temple were 
immense. David and his 
princes contributed 108,000 
talents of gold. 1,017,000 
talents of silver, which to- 
gether amounted to 46,000 
tons weight of gold and sil- 
ver, or the value of more 
than 4,000 millions of dollars ! 
About 184,600 men were em- 



TEM 



238 



TEM 



ployed seven years in build- 
ing it. It was erected on 
Mount Moriah ; and was ded- 
icated with solemn prayer by 
Solomon, during seven days 
of sacred feasting and by a 
peace-offering of 20,000 oxen 
and 120,000 sheep, to con- 
sume which the holy fire 
came down anew from heav- 
en. It remained in its glory 
only about 34 years, when 
Shishak carried off its treas- 
ures, 1 Kings xiv. 25, 26. 
Jehoiada and Joash repaired 
it about A. M. 3150. Soon 
after Joash gave its treasures 
to Hazael king of Syria, 2 
Kings xii. 4, 5. Ahaz strip- 
ped it so completely to hire 
the assistance of Assyria, 
that it was a long time en- 
tirely shut up. 2 Chron. 
xxviii. Hezekiah repaired 
it, and made such vessels for 
it as it wanted ; but in the 
14th year of his reign, was 
obliged to take from it much 
of its wealth, to give to Sen- 
nacherib. 2 Kings xviii. 
Manasseh idolatrously rear- 
ed altars to the host of heav- 
en in the sacred courts, but 
afterwards restored the true 
worship of God. Josiah his 
grandson further purged the 
temple, and replaced the ark 
ofGodinit. 2 Kings xxi. 
xxii. About A. M. 3398, 
Nebuchadnezzar carried the 
sacred vessels to Babylon, 
and at last, 3416, entirely de- 
molished it. Jer. lii. 12—23. 



About A. M. 3469, Cyrus 
ordered it to be rebuilt, 
which was done under the 
direction of Zerubbabel. It 
wanted, however, as the 
Jews say, five things which 
were the chief glory of the 
former ; viz. the Jlrk, and its 
furniture, the Shechinak, or 
cloud of the divine presence, 
the Holy fire, the Urim and 
Thummim, and the Spirit of 
prophecy. Ezra i. iii. vi. 
About A. M. 3837, Antio- 
chus Epiphanes profaned it, 
and stopped the daily sacri- 
fice; but, about three year9 
after, Judas Maccabeus puri- 
fied and repaired it, and re- 
stored divine worship. This 
second temple having stood 
more than 500 years, and 
being greatly out of repair, 
Herod the Great, about A. 
M. 3987, began to build it 
anew. In nine years he 
finished the principal parts of 
it ; but 46 years after, when 
our Saviour had begun his 
public ministry, it was not 
quite finished ; indeed, till 
the beginning of their ruin- 
ous wars, they still added to 
its buildings. It was thus 
made far more complete and 
beautiful than that of Zerub- 
babel, and was one of the 
most astonishing structures in 
the world, for magnitude and 
magnificence. Though al- 
most a new edifice, it retained 
the name of Second Temple. 
It was more glorious than the 



TEM 



239 



TES 



original terflple, Hag. ii. 9, 
because honoured with the 
presence and ministry of 
Christ. It was burnt and 
entirely destroyed by the 
Roman army under Titus. 
A M ah cine tan Mosque now 
stands on the very spot 
where once was the Holy of 
Holies. Into this no Jew or 
Christian dare venture on 
pain of death, or of redeeming 
his life by becoming a disci- 
ple of Islamism. 

TEMPTATION. (1.) The 
act of enticing to a crime. 
(2.) The state of beins: tried. 
(3.) Any thing offered to the 
mind as a motive to ill. It 
signifies those means which 
are made use of by the devil, 
to ensnare mankind, and 
dfaw them from their duty. 
Matt. vi. 13. xxvi. 41. Luke 
xi. 4. God tempts men by 
those afflictions which he per- 
mits, in order to exercise, 
prove, and confirm the graces 
of his people. Gen. xxii. 1. 
They should therefore be 
borne by Christians without 
murmuring, that they may 
become patterns of obedience, 
James i. 2, 12. Men tempt 
God, when they unseasona- 
bly and irreverently require 
proofs of his presence, power, 
and goodness. Ex. xvii. 2, 
7 ; when they expose them- 
selves to danger, from which 
they cannot escape without 
his miraculous interposition, 
Matt. iv. 7 ; and when they 



sin with great boldness, as 
if to try whether God would 
punish them. Mai. iii. 15. 
Acts v. 9. 

We may conclude an evil 
thought to be a temptation of 
Satan, and not the fruit of our 
own minds — (1.) When it is 
contrary to our general char- 
acter. (2.) When it is op- 
posite to our present frame of 
mind, and seems to come sud- 
denly. (3.) When it is un- 
natural or contrary to reason, 
(4.) When it is detested and 
opposed from the moment of 
the suggestion. 

TERAH, the son of Na- 
hor, was born, A. M. 1878; 
and at the 130th year of his 
life, had Abram born to him. 
He and his family were idol- 
aters ', but it would seem that 
the call of Abraham was 
blessed to his conversion. It 
is certain that Terah emi- 
grated with Abraham to 
Haram, and died there. Gen. 
xi. 24—32. Josh. xxiv. 2, 14. 

TERAPHIM, images or 
household gods. Some think 
they were talismans, to pre- 
serve the family from evil. 
Eastern nations have for 
many ages been addicted to 
such charms. The Persians 
call them telephin, a name 
not dissimilar to teraphim. 
They were sometimes con- 
sulted for oracles. Zech. x.2. 

T£STAMENT,thewillof 
a testator. Gal. iii. 15. Heb. 
ix. 16, 17. The Greek word 



THE 



240 



THE 



so translated in the New Tes- 
tament, is that hy which the 
JLXX, have uniformly trans- 
lated the Hebrew word for 
Covenant. The Old Scrip- 
tures are called the Old Test- 
ament, or Covenant, or Dis- 
pensation. 2 Cor. iii. 14. 
The dispensation of the cov- 
enant of grace, as contained 
in the writings of the evange- 
lists and apostles, is called the 
New Testament. It is last in 
order, and shall never be 
abolished. Though it agree 
with the Old Testament, it is 
far more clear, spiritual, ef- 
ficacious, and easy. Heb. ix. 
15. Acts xv. 10. 

TE'TRARCH, one who 
governed the fourth part of a 
kingdom. 

THANKSGIVIN ^grate- 
ful acknowledgment of ben- 
efits. It implies, (1.) A real 
sense of value in the things 
received. (2.) A reception 
of them with complacency. 
(3.) A cheerful avowal of the 
obligation conferred. (4.) 
Grateful love to the bestow- 
er; and (5.) Hearty desires 
to compensate or honour him 
who blesses us. Phil. iv. 6. 
ITim. ii. 1. 

THE8SALONIANS, the 
tftle of two epistles written to 
the church at Thessalonica 

The First Epistle is gen- 
erally admitted to have been 
the earliest written of all 
Paul's letters. He enjoined 
it to be read to all the adja- 



cent churches. Ch. v. 27. 
His object seems to have 
been, to confirm them in the 
faith, and to excite their 
piety. 

The Second Epistle written 
soon after the first, commends 
their faith and charity, recti- 
fies their mistake in suppos- 
ing that the day of judgment 
was at hand ; admonishes 
them of certain irregularities 
in their church, &c. 

Beside the marks of gen- 
uineness and authority which 
this epistle has in common 
with the rest, Horne re- 
marks, " it has one peculiar 
to itself, in the exact repre- 
sentation it contains of the 
Papal power, under the char- 
acters of the ' Man of Sin,' 
and the * Mystery of Iniqui- 
ty.' For considering hovv 
directly opposite the princi- 
ples here described, Ch. ii, 
were to the genius of Chris- 
tianity, it must have appear- 
ed at that time highly improb- 
able, that they should ever 
have prevailed in the Chris- 
tian church ; and conse- 
quently a prediction like this, 
which answers so exactly in 
every particular to the event, 
must prove that its author 
wrote under divine influ- 
ence." 

THESSALONI'CA, the 
capital of Macedonia. It was 
anciently called Haiis, and 
Thermos; but Philip, the fath- 
er of Alexander the Great, 



w 






*mm,2 




ANCIENT THRESHING FLOOR. 

A, View of the bottom and rollers. 

B, View of the side and driver'u Beat. 



THR 



243 



THR 



called it Thessalonica, to 
commemorate his victory 
over the Tbessalians. About 
A. D. 52, Paul, Silas, and 
Timothy, planted a church 
here. It was at this time a 
city of great commerce and 
wealth, and abounded with 
Jews. The Saracens took it 
about 800 years after Christ ; 
and after various revolutions, 
it fell under the power of 
Turkey. It is at this time 
one of the chief ports oi 
modern Greece, containing 
before the late revolution 
60,000 inhabitants, of which 
12,000 were Jew*. Its pres- 
ent name is Saloniky. 

THOMAS, or Didymus, 
one of the apostles. Matt. 
x. 3. He staid several years 
at Jerusalem, after the Pen- 
tecost, and then went, it is 
said, to preach among the 
Parthians, Medes, Hyrcani- 
ans, and Bactrians. He suf- 
fered martyrdom in Melia- 
poor, in the East Indies, 
where, three hundred years 
ago, the Portuguese discov- 
ered Christians, who called 
themselves by his name. 

THREE TAVERNS, a 
place between Apii-Forum 
and Rome, about 35 miles 
south of the latter. 

THRESHING-FLOOR. 
A very good idea of this im- 
portant part of a Jewish farm 
may be got from the -picture. 
It was prepared in the open 
field, as it is at this day in 



our southern states, by 
trampling and rolling a suf- 
ficient spot of ground, gen- 
erally on some gentle em- 
inence for the sake of the 
wind. The lees of oil were 
mixed up with the clay, 
which rendered it impervi- 
ous to water. Here the 
smaller kinds were beaten 
out with a long staff, or 
flail; the larger kinds with 
oxen or horses, These drew 
a set of rollers, over which 
was constructed a seat for 
the driver of the team. Isa. 
xxviii. 27. To separate the 
chaff and s;rain, the fan was 
used. [See Fan.] The 
grain was cleared of heavier 
substances, such as lumps of 
dirt, by means of the sieve. 
To depict the dire ruin of 
the wicked, it is said, " they 
shall be as the chaff that is 
driven with the whirlwind 
out of the floor." Hos. xiii. 
3. Job xxi. 18. The church 
is likened to a threshing- 
floor ; for here Christ gath- 
ers his glorious harvest, and 
here he will thoroughly 
cleanse it. Matt. iii. 12. 

THRONE, the seat of a 
monarch. Being always 
higher than a chair, it need- 
ed a footstool, where, in to- 
ken of reverence, applicants 
bowed themselves. Ps. xcix. 
5. Solomon's throne was 
raised six steps, and was of 
solid gold and ivory. The 
word is used to denote king- 



TIB 



244 



TIB 



ly authority, Gen. xli. 40; 
and hence angels are called 
thrones. Col. i. 16. 

THYAT1RA is situated 
between Sardis and Perga- 
mos, near a branch of the 
Caicus, in the centre of an 
extensive plain. At the dis- 
tance of four or five miles, a 
belt of mountains surrounds 
it. It was once famous for 
its purple dye. Acts xvi. 
14. There are now about 
1,000 houses in the place, 
but poor. The streets are 
very narrow and dirty. Its 
modern name is Ak Hisar. 

THY'INE, the same as 
the Thya tree. It rises with 
a strong trunk to the height 
of 30 feet on more, the 
branches projecting horizon- 
tally, and at right angels 
with each other. The wood 
is hard and admits a fine 
polish, on which account 
the heathen make gods of it. 
From this tree is obtained 
the gum sandrac. Rev. 
xviii. 12. 

TIBERIAS, sea of. See 
Gennesa-reth. 

TIBERIAS, a city of Gal- 
ilee, built by Agi ippa, and 
named in honour of the em- 
peror Tiberius. Hegesippus 
says it was the same as 
Cinnereth. In the time of 
the Jewish wars, this city 
was the capital of Galilee, 
and was bravely defended 
by Josephus the historian; 
but being taken by Vespa- 



sian, it was'almost demolish- 
ed. It was, however, a place 
of considerable note, for ma- 
ny ages after. This city, af- 
ter the destruction of Jerusa- 
lem, flourished considerably, 
having thirteen synagogues 
and a famous academy, over 
which a succession of Jewish 
doctors presided till the 
fourth century. Here was 
held the last session of the 
Sanhedrim, and here the 
Talmud was collected. It 
is still a decent town, and 
around it are extensive ruins 
indicative of its former ex- 
tent and grandeur. Thirty 
or forty families of Greek 
Catholics reside here. The 
present name of this town is 
Tabaria. 

TIBERIUS. Cesar Au- 
gustus having married Li- 
via. Tiberius' mother, adopt- 
ed him as his heir. In the 
beginning of his reign, Ti- 
berius behaved with moder- 
ation ; but afterwards be- 
came peevish, cruel and op- 
pressive. About the thir- 
teenth year he made Pilate 
governor of Judea. In the 
fifteenth year, John Baptist 
began to preach. Luke iii. 
1. Soon after, he took from 
the Jews the power of put- 
ting criminals to death. It 
is said, that hearing of the 
miracles of our Saviour, he 
was earnest to have him en- 
rolled among the Roman 
deities, but was hindered by 



TIM 



245 



TIN 



the senate. He so favoured 
the Christians, as to threat- 
en death to such as molested 
them on account of their 
religion. 

TIGLATH-PILEZER, a 
king of Assyria, who was 
called upon by Ahaz, king 
of Judah, for help against 
Pekah, king of Israel, and 
Rezin, king of Damascus. 
1 Kings xi. He died B. C. 
729, and was succeeded by 
Shalmanezer. 

TIMBREL, an instru- 
ment of music, very like our 
Tambourine, consisting of a 
brass hoop, over which was 
stretched a parchment. It 
was held in the left hand, 
and struck with the right ; 
and was played on while 
dancing, on occasions oi 
great joy. Ex. xv. 20. It 
is also called Tabret. 

TIME, the measure of 
duration ; the season to do a 
thing. To " redeem time," 
is to be doubly diligent in 
duty on account of former 
negligence. Time is re- 
deemed, by avoiding exces- 
sive sleep, useless recrea- 
tions, indolent habits, formal 
visits, trifling reading, vain 
conversation, and officious 
employments. " The last 
times," mean gospel times 
which are under the last dis- 
pensations of grace, and near 
the end of the world. The 
" fulness of time," means the 
time when every thing is 



prepared for an event. Gal. 
iv. 4. 

TIMOTHY, or Timothe- 

us, was a native of Lystra. 
His father was a Greek, but 
his grandmother and moth- 
er, being pious Jewish wo- 
men, trained him up in the 
knowledge of the Scriptures, 
Acts xvi. 1. His bodily con- 
stitution was weak, but his 
gifis and graces were emi- 
nent. 

The Epistles to Timothy 
were written by Paul from 
Rome, not long before his 
death. In these he is in- 
structed in the choice of of- 
ficers for the church, in the 
proper deportmentofa Chris- 
tian minister, in the method 
of church government and 
discipline, the importance of 
steadfastness in Christian 
doctrine, the perils and se^ 
ductions that should come, 
&c. 

TIN, a white metal, of 
little elasticity, lighter than 
almost any other metal, and 
so ductile as to be capable 
of being beaten out into 
leaves as thin as paper. It 
is procured in Germany, 
Saxony, England, South 
America, and the East In- 
dies. It seems to have been 
known and used very early, 
being mentioned, Numb. 
xxxi. 22, and by Homer, in 
the Iliad. Its ores frequent- 
ly occur in granite. Tin 
ware, as it is called, is really 



TIT 



246 



TIT 



sheet iron ware, washed with 
tin to prevent rust. 

TIRE, an ornament for a 
head dress, or possibly the 
head dress itself. The Tar- 
gum and Talmud, as well as 
Rabbi Jarchi, interpret the 
word in Ezek. xxiv. 7, of 
the phylacteries, or frontlets, 
worn on the forehead. The 
" round tires like the moon," 
mentioned lsa. iii. 18, were 
necklaces, such as were 
fourd upon the necks of the 
Midianite kings, and even 
on their camels, Jud. viii. 
21, 26. In the latter text 
the same Hebrew word is 
called " chains," which is 
here called tires. 

TIR'HAKAH, a king of 
Cush ; called in profane 
history, Thearchon. 2 Kings 
xix. 9 

TIR'SHATHA, a title of 
honour bestowed on Nehe- 
miah, thought to be equiva- 
lent to commissioner. Ezra 
ii. 63: Neh. x. 1. 

TlRZAH,avery beauti- 
ful city belonging to the 
tribe of Ephraim. 1 Kings 
xiv. 17. 

TITHES mean tenths. 
The early practice of giving 
a tenth of income to relig- 
ious purposes, seems to have 
been by divine institution. 
Abram gave to Melchisedec, 
the Lord's priest, the tenth 
of his spoils taken in battle. 
Gen. xiv. 20. Jacob dedi- 
cated to God, the tenth of 



his g.un. Gen. xxviii. 22. 
Many of the Greeks, Ro- 
mans, and other Heathen, 
devoted the tenth part of 
their incomes to the service 
of their gods. 

By the Jewish law, the 
tenth of \he product of corn, 
cattle, &c. was assigned to 
the Levites. Of what re- 
mained ro the proprietor, 
another tithe was levied, and 
in value or kind, sent to the 
service of ihe tabernacle and 
temple, and the ministers 
thereof, at the solemn feasts. 
On every third year a third 
tithe was levied, for the use 
of the Levites, and the fath- 
erless, widows, and stran- 
gers. The Levites paid to 
the Priests the tithe of what 
they received from the peo- 
ple. Deut.xiv. 28. It does 
not appear that the tithe of 
herbs was demanded. The 
Pharisees, however, tithed 
their mint, anise, cummin, 
and rue ; nor does Jesus 
condemn them for it, but for 
neglecting weightier things, 
as mercy, judgment, and 
faith, while they were so ex- 
act in small matters. Deut. 
xiv. 22—29. Num. xviii. 20. 

TITTLE, a minute point; 
a small circumstance. 

TITUS, an eminent Chris- 
tian Bishop. He seems to 
have been a Greek, and one 
of Paul's early converts. Of 
the time, place, or manner « 
of his death, we have no cer- 



TOM 



247 



TON 



tain account. Tradition says 
he lived to the age of 94 
years, and was buried in 
Crete, where he had been 
left by Paul. Tit. i. 5. 

The Epistle to Titus is 
eminently valuable for its 
elucidations of the nature 
and duties of the Christian 
ministry — the manner of ac- 
commodating exhortation to 
the characters of the persons 
we address — the necessity 
of a minister's setting an ex- 
ample of what he teaches — 
the doctrine of obedience to 
civil rulers — the necessity of 
good works, and the treat- 
ment of foolish questions 
and heretics. 

TOB. See Syria. 

TOMB, a grave ; a vault 
in which dead bodies are 
placed ; a house or monu- 
ment raised over a grave. 
The ancients always buried 
outside of cities. When 
cupolas or vaulted chambers 
were raised over graves, 
they were generally 10 or 12 
feet square, and so might 
well afford lodging for de- 
moniacs, Mark v. 5. Forbes 
in his " Oriental Memoirs," 
informs us that those recess- 
es often afford shelter to the 
weary traveller overtaken by 
night, and likewise to rob- 
bers who sally forth from 
them to commit their noc- 
turnal depredations. The 
graves of the poor were of- 
ten distinguished only by 



some slight stone or board, 
which when they fell, were 
not set up again, by which 
means the grave did not ap- 
pear. Hence they could be 
walked over unperceived. 
Luke xi. 44. See Sepul- 

TONGUE. (1.) That 
member by which we artic- 
ulate sounds. James iii. 5. 
(2.) The language spoken 
in any country. Deut. xxviii. 
49. There appears to have 
been but one language, till 
the confusion of tongues at 
Babel The Hebrew tongue 
contains more internal evi- 
dence of being the same that 
God communicated to Ad- 
am, than any other ; but it 
is supposed to have under- 
gone alterations, in the se- 
ries of so many ages from 
Adam down to Moses. The 
simplicity of its construc- 
tion, the conciseness and 
energy of its expression, its 
peculiar fertility, the relation 
it has to the most ancient 
oriental languages, which 
seem to derive their origin 
from it; the etymology of 
the names whereby the first 
of mankind were called, 
which naturally occurs in 
this language, the names of 
animals, which are often 
significant of their nature 
and habits ; the most ancient 
book, viz. the Old Testament 
being, for the most part, in 
this language, &c. indicate 



TOP 



24J 



TOW 



that it was the original lan- 
guage of the human spe- 
cies. 

TOPAZ, a name now ap- 
plied to a yellow gem, ob- 
tained in various parts of 
the earth, generally about 
the size ot a pin's head. 
Scarcely any exceed the 
sixth part of an inch in di- 
ameter. The most valuable 
topaz in the world, is that in 
possession of the Great Mo- 
gul ; said to weigh 137 car- 
ats, and to be worth nearly 
a million of dollars. 

TOPHET, a drum, or 
timbrel. The name of a place 
in the valley of Hinnom,. 
called Gehenna, where the 
idolatrous Jews burned their 
children to Moloch. This 
valley Jay near Jerusalem, 
and was in ancient times 
delightfully verdant and 
shaded with trees. It was 
called Tophet, from the 
beating' of drums, (tophheing 
the Hebrew name of a drum,) 
which were used to drown 
the cries of the infant?, sac- 
rificed to the image. 2 Kings 
xxiii. 10. In order to dis- 
qualify this valley from be- 
ing a place of worship, and 
thus the more thoroughly to 
have Moloch discarded, Jo- 
siah caused it to be a place 
for dead carcasses, and filth 
of every kind. 2 Kings 
xxiii. 10. Jer. xix. From 
that time, it was universally 
abhorred, and abandoned to 



loathsomeness. In order to 
prevent the pestilent influ- 
ence of such a place, per- 
petual fires were kept burn- 
ing there. Hence it grew 
to be an image of hell, and 
ultimately the name Gehen- 
na was definitively applied 
to the place of future and 
eternal punishment. 

TORMENTORS, agents 
of Jewish Courts of Justice, 
whose duty it was to admin- 
ister sentences, Matt, xviii. 
34. It seems that in the 
time of Christ this office 
was connected with that of 
Jailer. 

TORTOISE. There are 
two kinds of tortoises, viz. 
sea and land ones. It is the 
land tortoise that is mention- 
ed in Scripture. It feeds on 
flowers and insects, lives 
longer than men, and has a 
wonderful power of endur- 
ing the want of food. Its 
general size is from four to 



eio-ht inches 1 



ong; 



but in 



the Isle of Madagascar, the 
Gallipagos, &c. it attains 
five or six times that size, 
covered with a variegated 
shell of great value in com- 
merce, and much used for 
ladies' combs, &c. 

TOWER. (1.) A high 
stage erected in cultivated 
fields, on which a watchman 
was stationed toward harvest 
to guard against thieves, Jer- 
vi. 21. (2.) A fortified 
building to afford protection 



TRA 



249 



TRA 



against enemies, or to annoy 
them. 2 Kings xvii. 9. 

TRACHONi'TIS, a dis- 
trict bordering the holy land 
to the northeast. It is a 
craggy, mountainous region, 
infested, during the govern- 
ment of Philip, with many 
robbers. Luke iii. 1. 

TRADITION, a narrative 
or ceremony delivered from 
father to son by 
mouth, without any written 
memorial. Those traditions, 
for the observance of which 
the Scribes and Pharisees so 
much contended, were con- 
demned by our Saviour, as 
subversive of the true intent 
of Scripture. Matt. xv. 2. 
3. The fifth commandment 
was so strangely perverted 
by these self-righteous teach- 
ers, that according to them, 
a man might give the sur- 
plus of his estate, as a relig- 
ious gift to God, and deny 
any support to his parents, 
who might be destitute of 
the necessaries of life. Matt. 
xv. 6. See Cokbaiv. These 
traditions became in time 
amazingly numerous, and 
had regard to the most tri- 
fling actions of life. About 
A. D. 190 they were collect- 
ed by the industrious Rabbi 
Judah, and icritten. He 
called his work the Mishna, 
or second law. About one 
hundred years after, Rabbi 
Jochanan wrote a commenta- 
ry on the Mishna, which he 



called Gemara, or Perfec- 
tion. The whole was called 
the Talmud, or Instruction. 
About the year 500, the Bab- 
ylonian Rabbins composed 
another Talmud, written in 
a clearer style, and not quite 
so full of absurdities. It 
makes 10 or 12 large folio 
volumes; but there is an 
abridgment by Maimonides, 
word of a distinguished Spanish Jew 
of the 12th century, who 
omitted the grosser absurdi- 
ties. The Roman Catholics 
are fond of traditions, and 
hold to many. The word of 
God, however, is our only 
guide, in faith and practice, 
and whatever has no warrant 
there, ought not to be con- 
sidered binding. Before the 
New Testament was com- 
pleted, and while the apos- 
tles remained to examine 



traditions, it was proper for 
Christians to regard such as 
were by them sanctioned. 
2 Thess. ii. 15. It would 
now be hazardous to trust in 
them at all ; and might be 
considered as adding to the 
word of God. Rev. xxii. 18. 
TRANCE, that state of a 
person's mind, in which su- 
pernatural things are reveal- 
ed to him. Paul was cast 
into a trance. Acts xxii. 17. 
And so was Peter. Acts x. 
10. xi. 5, &c. 

TRANSFIGURE, to 
change the outward form. 
The word is chieflv used in 



TRE 



250 



TRI 



reference to the supernatural 
change in the appearance of 
our Saviour on the Mount. 
The word occurs only in 
Matt. xvii. 2. and Mark 
ix. 2. 

TRANSLATE,now means 
to render one language unto 
another ; but its significa- 
tion in Scripture, is to trans- 
fer from one person or place 
to another. The word and 
its derivatives are used 
five times in the Bible, viz. 
2.. Sam. iii. 10. Col. i. 13. 
Heb. xi. 5. In the latter 
verse thrice. 

TREASURY, a place 
where public money is kept 
or managed. It was the 
name given to that part of 
the Jewish temple where 
stood the chests for collect- 
ing the voluntary contribu- 
tions of the people ; over 
which w 7 ere the chambers 
for depositing the sacred 
stores. Josh. vi. 19. Jer. 
xxxviii. 11. Matt, xxvii. 6. 
Luke xxi. 1. John viii. 
20. The money collected 
in these chests was appro- 
priated to the purchase of 
fuel for the altar, salt, 
&c. 

TREES are useful, some 
for fuel, some for timber, 
some for medicine, some for 
dyeing, some for fruit, &c. 
The Scripture mentions the 
palm, shittah; bay, cedar, 
chestnut, almond, willow, 
cypress, pine, ebony, almug 



or algum, oak, teil, apple, 
ash, elm, juniper, box, fir, 
oil, olive, citron, balsam, 
pomegranate, fig-, sycamore, 
scyamine, poplar, thyine, 
and mulberry. Trees in 
Palestine generally put forth 
their foliage in the month of 
January, when the old leaves 
of many trees are not fallen 
off. The first blossoms are 
those of the almond tree. 
Jesus Christ is called the 
u tree of life," because by 
partaking of his fulness we 
attain life everlasting. Rev- 
elations xxii. 2. Christians 
are called " trees of right- 
eousness," because like 
Christ, and yielding benefits 
to men. Ps. i. 3. 

TRIBE, a division of peo- 
ple. The tribes of Israel 
were the descendants of Ja- 
cob's sons. As Jacob bless- 
ed both Manasseh and E- 
phraim, w T ho were Joseph's 
sons, it made 13 tribes, and 
yet no tribe of Joseph. The 
land of promise, however, 
was divided only into 12 
portions, because the tribe of 
Levi was to be supported by 
tithes. There being iicelve 
tribes who each paid them a 
tenth of every thing, their 
condition was more easy 
than the other tribes. The 
Jews assert, though without 
very satisfactory proof, that 
each tribe had its appropriate 
banner, as follows ; 



TRO 



251 



TRU 



Judah, a Lion couching, Gen. xlix. 9. 
Issachar, " Ass, u xlix. 14. 

Zebulon, « Ship, « " 13. 

Reuben, " Man, " " 3. 

Simeon, " Sword, " " 5. 

Gad, " Lion, Deut. xxxiii. 22. 

Ephraim, " Unicorn," " 17. 
Manasseh, « Bull, " 17. 

Benjamin, il Wolf, Gen. xlix. 27. 
Dan, « Serpent, « " 17. 



Ash« 



" Sheaf of wheat, " 20. 



Kaphtali, < ; Hind, « " 21. 

TRIBUTE, money paid 
by a tax. Our Saviour, Matt, 
xxii. 17, shows clearly, that 
religion does not exempt 
men from civil duties ; and 
the apostle Paulrecommends 
faithful Christians to pay ac- 
cording to law. Rom. xiii. 
7. See Publicans. 

TROAS, or Troy, a city 
of Mysia, near the mouth of 
the Hellespont, very famous 
in history, which, after a 
siege of ten years, was ta- 
ken by the Greeks. This 
occurred, according to Sir 
Isaac Newton, about nine 
hundred and four years be- 
fore the birth of Christ, or 
during the reign of Jehosha- 
phat. A new city of thy 
same name was soon built 
about four miles nearer the 
sea. Here Paul often preach- 
ed, lodging with one Carpus. 
Acts xvi. 8. xx. 5 — 12. 2 
Tim. iv. 13. A Christian 
church long existed here ; 
but is now extinct, and the 
place lies in ruins. 

TROGYL'LlUM,acape, 
which formed a bay about 5 
miles from Samos, where 



the vessel in which Paul 
sailed to Macedonia, made 
an anchorage for a ni^ht. 
Acts xx. 15. 

TROW, to think, or sup- 
pose ; to believe; to trust ; 
Luke xvii. 9. 

TRUMPET, an instru- 
ment of loud music, still in 
common use. It was orig- 
inally made of the horn of a 
ram or ox, and subsequently 
of metal. The bugle is a 
modern improvement of this 
instrument. On that new 
moon festival which com- 
menced the Jewish civil 
year, that is, the first day of 
Tizri, was held the Feast of 
Trumpets. Lev. xxiii. Num. 
xxix. 

TRUST, confidence in 
any person or thing. To 
trust in man is both sinful 
and vain. Jer. xvii. 5. Trust 
in God should be sincere, 
Prov. iii. 5, 6 ; Unreserved, 1 
Pet. v. 7 j Steadfast, lsa. 
xxvi. 4 ; and Cheerful, Mic. 
vii. 7. Such as trust God are 
safe, Ps. exxv. 1 ; Coura- 
geous, Ps. xx\ ii. 1 — 3 ; and 
Serene, Ps. xxvi. 3. 

TRUTH,the positive mat- 
ter of fact ; contrary to false- 
hood. Moral truth is the 
conformity of word*; and ac- 
tions to the thoughts of the 
heart ; as w T hen a man speaks 
what he thinks, and is in re- 
ality what he seems to be. 
It is taken for the true prin- 
ciples of religion, *he true 



TWI 



252 



TYP 



doctrine of the gospel ; and 
Jesus Christ, being the Au- 
thor, is emphatically styled 
u the Truth" because lie is 
the substance of all the types, 
John xiv. 6. 

TURTLE-DOVE, a well 
known bird, often mention- 
ed in Scripture. In one 
place it seems that by -\ 
being written for i, an er- 
ror very easiiy made, the 
word for turtle-dove has oc- 
curred, instead of the word 
for " confessing thee,'" The 
text accordingly stands in 
the Septuagint and Syriac 
versions, " deliver not the 
soul of him that confesseth 
thee unto the multitude of 
the wicked." Ps. lxxiv. 19. 

TWILIGHT, the light 
which continues after the 
sun has set, and commences 
before it rises. 1 Sam. xxx. 
17, Prov. vii. 9. This is 
caused by the atmosphere, 
which being thicker than 
the space between it and 
the sun, bends down, or re- 
fracts the rays of light, and 
even makes the sun itself 
appear when it is beneath 
the horizon. In the north- 
ern parts of Scotland, the 
sun sets but for a short time 
in the summer, and the 
twilight will enable a person 
to read even at midnight. 
Near the poles, twilight con- 
tinues for several weeks to- 
gether, without the sun's 
rising. It then rises, and 



shines uninterruptedly the 
whole summer. Then the 
twilight of several weeks re- 
curs, and afterward the sun 
sets to be seen no more till 
the next summer. 

TYPE, a person or thing, 
prefiguring something rela- 
tive to Christ or his church. 
These were numerous, as 
none of them could fully 
point out its antitype ; and 
were a kind of real predic- 
tions of things to come, as 
those uttered by the proph- 
ets were verbal. There 
were typical persons, as Ad- 
am, Noah, Melchisedek, 
Isaac, Aaron, Joshua, David, 
Solomon, Jonah: typical 
classes of persons, as Israel- 
ites, first-born males, kins- 
man-redeemers, Nazarites, 
high priests : typical things, 
as Noah's ark, Jacob's ladder, 
the burning bush, the cloudy 
pillar, the water of Marah, 
the manna, the poo! ofBeth- 
e^da, the deliverance of the 
Hebrews from Egypt, their 
passage through the Sea, 
their travels in the wilder- 
ness, their entrance into 
Canaan, their wars with the 
heathens, &c. The typical 
institutions were circumcis- 
ion, sanctification of fruit- 
trees, offering no base things 
to God, exclusion from the 
congregation of the Lord, 
wearing proper apparel, a- 
voiding mixedgarments, sow- 
ing mingled seed, ploughing 



TYP 



253 



TYR 



with oxen and asses, tender- 
ness to beasts, not muzzling 
the treading ox, &c. The 
typical places were Canaan, 
the cities of refuge, Jerusa- 
lem, Zion, the tabernacle, 
and the temple. The ty- 
pical utensils were the ark, 
the pot of manna, the table 
of shrew-bread with its 
loaves, the golden altar of 
incense, the golden candle- 
stick, the silver trumpets, 
the brazen laver and sea, the 
brazen altar, &c. The typi- 
cal offerings were the burnt, 
the sin, the trespass, peace, 
and meat-offerings. the drink- 
offerings, the anointing oil, 
ransom-money, tithes, first- 
fruits, things voluntarily de- 
voted, the ram caught in the 
thicket, &c. The typical 
seasons were the time of the 
daily sacrifices, the Sabbath, 
the feast of new moons, the 
passover and feast of unlea- 
vened bread, Pentecost, the 
feast of trumpets, the feast 
of tabernacles, the year of 
release, and the jubilee, &c. 
The typical purifications 
were from the defilement of 
unholy things, from child- 
birth, leprosy, infection by 
dead bodies, &c. To him 
that discerns the evangelical 
signification of these various 
types, the narratives of the 
Old Testament are not a dry 
history, but appear replen- 
ished with the most useful 
instructions concerning our 



Saviour and his body the 
church. 

TYRE, h, very ancient 
city, possessing, for many 
ages, astonishing enterprise 
and wealth. Isa. xxiii. 8. 
It was at first built four fur- 
longs from the shore, on an 
island. But the city which 
soon reared itself upon the 
opposite land, grew into 
greater size and considera- 
tion. After a ?iege of thir- 
teen years by Nebuchadnez- 
zar, B. C. 537, it was over- 
come and destroyed, but not 
till the inhabitants had es- 
caped with their effects to 
the insular city. The latter 
then flourished for 200 
years, when Alexander 
stoimed and took it, having- 
with this intent built a 
causeway to it, out of the 
ruins of the old town. It 
was the emporium of com- 
merce and the arts. Their 
ships found the way even to 
England, whence among 
ottier things, they brought 
tin from the mines at Corn- 
wall. Its kings swayed a 
powerful sceptre, and their 
colonies were scattered over 
all the Mediterranean. The 
chief deities of the place 
were Hercules and Astarte. 
It belonged to the tribe of 
slsher, but was never wholly 
subdued. About two hun- 
dred years after Christ it was 
destroyed by Niger, emperor 
of Rome. After this it 



UNB 



254 



UNC 



flourished five hundred 
years, under the Seljukian 
Turks, was then taken by 
the crusaders, and finally 
was destroyed A. D. 1289, 
by the Sultan of Egypt. A. 
D. 1516 it was seized by the 
Ottoman Turks, who are to 
this day masters of all that 
country. The predictions 
of Isaiah and Ezekiel, that 
this city for its wickedness 
should be utterly destroyed, 
have been most severely ful- 
filled, lsa. xxxiii. Ezek. 
xxvi. xxviii. Maujvdrel, 
who visited this spot in 1697. 
found not a house entire, and 
only a few miserable inhab- 
itants, harbouring them- 
selves in vaults, and sub 
sisting chiefly by fishing. A 
village adjacent, then bore 
the name. There is now a 
considerable village built 
among the ruins ; the popu- 
lation of which Mr. Jowett 
estimates at about 1,500. 
Mr. Connor reckons them at 
double that number. It is 
now called Skur } or Zur. 



u, 



UNBELIEF, infidelity, or 
a distrust of any narrative, 
person or doctrine. Unbe- 
lief of God's holy word, is a 
universal sin in the world. 
It is the cause of disobedi- 



ence to his commands, and 
that man will be eternally 
condemned, over whom it 
shall finally prevail. Matt, 
xiii. 58. It a dreadful crime, 
as its makes God a liar, re- 
jects Jesus and his whole 
salvation, and is the root of 
all other sins. Unbelief is 
either negative, in such as 
have not heard the gospel ; 
as in the Heathen, 1 Cor. vi. 
6. 2 Cor. vi. 14; or positive, 
as in those, who, though 
they hear the gospel, and 
profess to re$,ird it, yet be- 
lieve not with their hearts. 
Luke xii. 46. Tit. i. 15. Un- 
belief is either with respect 
to a 'particular declaration of 
God ; as when Zach arias 
discredited God's promise of 
a son to him, Luke i. 20 ; or 
universal, having respect to 
the whole declarations of 
God. It is either jjartial, 
importing some degrees of 
distrust, Mark ix. 24 ; or 
total j where there is no trust 
at all. 1 Tim. i. 13. 

UNCLEAN. Persons or 
things are unclean. (1.) Nat- 
urally;- as dunghills, or 
hateful animals are unclean. 
Rev. xviii. 2. (2.) Cere- 
monially ; as persons who 
touched dead bodies, &c. 
A great number of beasts 
were thus unclean. Numb, 
xix. Lev. xi.xvi. (3.) In 
scrupulous opinion ; so some 
meats were reckoned un- 
clean by the primitive Chrif- 



UPH 



255 



URI 



lians. Rom. xiv. 14. (4.) 
Morally ; bein^ polluted 



with sin : so devils are "un- 
clean spirits." Matt. x. I. 
Uncleanness means lewd 
ness. Rom. i. 24. 

UNICORN, a fierce and 
powerful animal often men- 
tioned in Scripture. It is 
generally thought to mean 
the Rhinoceros, which has a 
strong horn between its fore- 
head and nose, with which it 
rips up trees into splint- 
ers for food. Some have 
thought that the Buffalo was 
the true Unicorn. The pic- 
tures which represent the 
unicorn in the form of a 
horse, with a horn in its 
forehead, are probably whol- 
ly fictitious, though it has 
been lately affirmed that a 
similar animal is found in 
South Africa. 

UPHARSIN, one of the 
Chaldee words, written on 
the wall atBelshazzar's feast, 
which signifies dividing 
Why the Chaldeans could 
not read these words, Dan. 
v. 7, is not now known. 
Perhaps being all written as 
one word, they could not 
rightly divide the letters, or 
only the initial letters of 
the words might have been 
written. 

Peres, which is used for 
this word in Daniel's inter- 
pretation, Ch. v. 28, is the 
singular of Pharsin: the 
letter U, put before the lat- 



ter word, answering to our 
word and. 

UR, an ancient city of 
Chaldea or Mesopotamia, 
where Terah and Abraham 
dwelt. Gen. xv. 7. 

URIM and Thummim, lit- 
erally, lights and perfections , 
mentioned Exo. xxviii. 30, 
and Lev. viii. 8. It seems 
probable, that they were the 
tic elve precious stones of the 
high priest's breast- plate; 
on which were engraven 
the names of the tribes of 
Israel ; and that the letters 
by standing out, or by an 
extraordinary illumination, 
marked such words as con- 
tained the answer of God to 
him who consulted this ora- 
cle. Many learned men are 
of opinion that the answer 
was given in an audible 
voice from the Shekinah, or 



that brightness which al- 
ways rested between the 
cherubims over the mercy 
seat. Ps. lxxx. 1. and xcix. 
1. When the Urim and 
Thummim were to be con- 
sulted, it is said, that the 
high priest put on his golden 
vestment, and in ordinary 
cases went into the sanctua- 
ry, and stood with his face 
to the Holy of holies, and 
the consulter stood near him. 
The Urim and Thummim 
were never consulted in 
matters of faith, as in these, 
the Jews had the written 
law for their rule; nor in 



VAI 



256 



VAN 



matters of small moment; 
nor by any but priests, rul- 
ers or prophets. 1 Sam. 
xxii. 10, &c. 

USURY, among the Jews, 
meant the customary price 
for the use of money. The 
word now means extortion- 
ate and unlawful interest. 
The law of nature forbids not 
the receiving of moderate 
interest for the loan of mon- 
ey, any more than the taking 
of rent for houses. As the 
Jews had very little concern 
in trade, and so only borrow- 
ed in case of necessity, and 
as their system was calcula- 
ted to establish every man's 
inheritance to his own fami- 
ly, they were allowed to 
lend money upon u?ury to 
strangers, Deut. xxiii. 20; 
but were prohibited to take 
it from their brethren of Is- 
rael ; at least if they were 
poor. Exo. xxii. 25. Lev. 
xxv. 35—37. 

UZ. (1.) The grandson of 
Shem. Gen. x. 23. (2.) A 
Horite. Gen, xxxvi. 28. (3.) 
The country of Job, situated 
somewhere east or northeast 
ofPalestine. It seems to have 
been near Chaldea. Jobi. 17. 



V. 



VAIL, or Veil, whatever 
hides any thing from being 
seen. The vail which divi- 



ded the holy of holies from 
the holy place in the Jewish 
tabernacle, was a type of the 
human nature of Christ, and 
also of the separation be- 
tween the Jews and Gen- 
tiles ; but was rent in twain 
at our Saviour's death, and 
the separation is now re- 
moved by the preaching of 
the Gospel to the Gentiles. 
Heb. x. 20. Eph. ii, 14. 
Matt, xxvii. 51. The vail 
of ignorance, blindness, and 
hardness of heart, which 
kept the Jews from under- 
standing the spiritual sense 
and meaning of the law, 
caused them to crucify the 
Saviour, resist the introduc- 
tion of the new covenant, 
and reject the gospel light, is 
still a hinderance to the ex- 
tension of the Redeemer's 
kingdom. John ix. 39. 2 
Cor. iii. 14, 25. Women dis- 
graced themselves by ap- 
pearing in public without a 
vail. I Cor. xi. 3—10. Es- 
pecially, perhaps, as it was 
the chief and almost the only 
difference between the dress 
of women and men. There 
were various forms of the 
vail ; some covered the 
whole person, others only 
the burst. 

VALLEY of H1NNOM. 
See Tophet. 

VANITY, emptiness. The 
term is applied in Scripture 
to the world, as unsatisfac- 
tory, Eccl. i. 2 — to idols, 



VAP 



257 



VIN 



Dent, xxxii. 21. 2 Kings 
xvii. 15 — to mean deceitful- 
ness, Ps. iv. 2 — to whatever 
disappoints our hopes, Ps. 
lx. 11 — to iniquity, Ps. cxix. 
37. 

VAPOUR, water combin- 
ed with so much heat as to 
cause it to rise in a gaseous 
form. Its expansive force, 
being greater than even that 
of gun-powder, themoderns 
have discovered the art of 
making it eminently useful 
in propelling engines for 
boats, factories, mines, &c. 
The steam engine is the no- 
blest aid ever contrived by 
human ingenuity. By its 
means a single bushel of 
coal can do the work of ten 
horses for one hour. Vapour 
raised by the sun is h< j ld by 
the air, till it accumulates in 
clouds, and by electricity, or 
by some unexplained cause, 
descends in rain. Ps. cxxxv. 
7. Vapour is a wonderful 
evidence of the wisdom and 
goodness of God. Jer. x. 
13, and li. 16. By evapora- 
tion we obtain rain, mist, 
dew, &c. By its constantly 
taking place in the human 
body, man is enabled to sus- 
tain the heat of every cli- 
mate. By the extraction of 
vapours from the earth, the 
air is sweetly cooled and 
made refreshing. The oc- 
casional drying winds of 
Africa carry with them ter- 
ror and death. Without 
X 



evaporation, grain and grass 
could not be cured for use, 
clothes could not be dried if 
wa-hed. In fine, a great 
variety of common opera- 
tions on which our comfort 
depends, could not be per- 
formed. Well does David, 
therefore, represent the va- 
pour, as praising God, and 
" fulfilling his word." Ps. 
cxlviii. 8. Human life is 
compared for frailty and 
transitoriness to a vapour. 
James iv. 14. 

VESTMENT, a word 
which occurs in Scripture 
only in 2 Kings x. 22, and 
there means the sacred robes 
of pagan priests. The vestry 
was the place where thej 
lay, and were put off and on. 
A vesture is chiefly an upper 
robe. Deut. xxii. 12. Christ's 
having his " vesture dipt in 
blood," and inscribed with 
this name, " King of kings, 
and Lord of lords," imports, 
that, in conquering and de- 
stroying his enemies, he 
mightily shows his sover- 
eign power* and dominion. 
Rev. xix. 13, 16. See Rai- 
ment. 

VINE, one of the most 
prominent productions of 
Canaan, and flourishing best 
in the lot of Judah, which 
contained the mountains of 
Engedi ; and the vallies of 
Eschol and Sorek, Gen. xlix. 
11. At the present day, a 
single cluster from those 



VIN 



258 



VIR 



vines will often weigh 12 
pounds ; and as the whole 
country is now comparative- 
ly neglected and barren, it 
is probable they once were 
much larger. Hence the 
spies, to avoid bruising the 
fine specimens they brought 
to Moses, hung them to a 
pole, borne by two men. 
Profane authors speak of the 
excellent wines' of Gaza, 
Sarepta, Libanus, Saron, 
Ascalon, and Tyre. 

The vine of Sodom grows 
near the Dead Sea. Its 
grapes are bitter, and consid- 
ered poisonous. Moses com- 
pares rebellious Israel to 
this plant. Deut. xxxii. 32. 

VINEGAR, an acid com- 
monly derived from sac- 
charine fermented liquors. 
When distilled it becomes 
perfectly colourless, and is 
increased in strength. It 
seems that weak sour wine, 
was. called vinegar by the 
"Romans. Thus Matthew 
(Chap, xxvii. 34.) says. 
" they gave him vinegar to 
drink, mingled with gall ;" 
whereas Mark informs us, 
(Chap. xv. 23.) " they gave 
him to drink, wine mingled 
with myrrh." Dr. A. Clarke 
says, " it was a common 
custom to administer a stu- 
pit'ying potion, compounded 
of sour wine, frankincense, 
and myrrh, to condemned 
persons, to. alleviate their 
sufferings; or so to disturb] 



their intellect, that they 
might not be sensible of 
them." The rabbins ground- 
ed this on Prov. xxxi. 6. Our 
Lord, of course, refused 
such aid. By his first tast- 
ing, before refusing it, we 
may infer, that if it had 
been merely adapted to 
quench thirst, it would not 
have been refused. Labour- 
ers in harvest refreshed 
themselves with this weak 
wine, or vinegar. Ruth ii. 
14. 

VINEYARD, a piece of 
ground planted with vines. 
The vineyard was prepared 
with great care, the stones 
being gathered out, a secure 
fence made round it, and a 
•scaffold or high summer- 
house, built in the centre, 
where, as the fruit ripened, 
a watchman was stationed, 
end where there was always 
shelter for the workmen at 
their meals, and a suitable 
place to keep the tools. Isa. 
v. 1—7. Matt. xxi. 33. 

VIPERS, serpents which 
bring forth their young 
alive, and not as is general- 
ly the case, by eggs. They 
seldom exceed 18 inches in 
length. There is no crea- 
ture more malignant and 
venomous, Job xx. 16. Isa. 
xxx. 6. 

VIRTUE, energy to pro- 
duce an effect — courage, 
2 Pet. i. 3 — 5 — holiness of 
heart and life. The latter 



vow 



259 



WAT 



is its more common signifi- 
cation, but in defining it wri- 
ters are not agreed. Some 
define it " universal benevo- 
lence ;" others u the imita- 
tion of God:" others u a 
wise regard to our own in- 
terest," others " moral good- 
ness." We may say it 
means in general whatever 
is ooposed to vice. Phil. iv. 8. 

VISION. See Dream. 

VOICE, in general, signi- 
fies any kind of noise, 
whether made by animals 
or not. God's voice is, (1 ) 
The thunder, which loudly 
declares his existence and 
providence. Psalms xxix. 
(2.) His laws, teaching, and 
promises ; in which he de- 
clares his will to men. Ex. 
xv. 26. (3.) His providences 
wherein he publishes his 
own excellencies, awakens 
us from our stupidity, and 
calls us to our duty. Mic. 
vi. 9. Amos i. 2. To mark 
John Baptist as not the true 
Messiah, but a proclaimer 
of his appearance, he is call- 
ed a voice. Isa. xl. I. 

VOW, a sacred promise 
made to God, to leave off 
some sin, or to perform 
some duty. Genesis xxviii. 
20. A genera! vow is made 
at baptism. The word is 
now used in an inferior 
sense to signify an oath, 
or solemn assurance to a 
person. 



W. 



WAFER means in Scrip- 
ture a flat cake, used in. Jew- 
ish worship. Exo. xxix 2. 
Lev. ii. 4, and vii. 12. Numb. 
vi. 19. 

WATCH, a guard. The 
period that a guard kept 
watch. The night was an- 
ciently divided by the Jews 
into three watches; the first 
watch, Lam. ii. 19, the mid- 
dle watch, Jud. vii. 19, and 
the morning watch, Exo. 
xiv. 24. This division of 
the night is also mentioned 
by Homer, Livy, Xenophon, 
&c. in the time of Christ, 
the night w T as divided into 
four watches, which was 
then the common practice 
of the Greeks and Romans. 
The second and third of 
these divisions are mention- 
ed, Luke xii. 33 ; the fourth, 
Matt. xiv. 25, and all of 
them, Mark xiii. 35. These 
watches differed according 
to the length of the night, 
which in Palestine varies 
from 14 hours 12 minutes, 
to 9 hours 48 minutes. 

WATCHFUL, vigilant 
to guard against dangers. 
Watchfulness is a duty often' 
and urgently inculcated up- 
on Christians. We must be 
watchful against the temp- 
tations of Satan, Rom. x. 
12; — the allurements of the 
world, Ps. xxxix. 1. Mark 



WAT 



260 



WAT 



viii. 15 ; — the deceitfulness 
of our hearts, Heb. iii. 12; — 
erroneous doctrines ; and in 
short against whatever would 
hinder our piety and useful- 
ness. We are to watch for 
the teachings of Providence, 
Ps. v. 8; — the fulfilment of 
prophecies, Rev. xvi. 15; — 
righteous deliverance from 
trouble, Psalm cxxx. ; — 
proper topics, spirit, and sea- 
sons of prayer. Ephesians 
yi. 18; — death and judgment, 
Mark xiii. 37. 

W r ATER, a fluid, which 
occupies a large portion of 
the globe. Moisture raised 
by the heat of the sun, in 
the form of vapour, being 
carried about in the air, and 
meeting in a collective mass, 
produces clouds ; these uni- 
ting and becoming heavier 
than the surrounding air, 
fall down in dew or rain, to 
make fruitful the earth. 
Much more rain falls on the 
higher than on the lower 
ground, and the water en- 
tering through crevices, on 
the hills, and finding its way 
through the earth to the sur- 
face again, produces springs. 
The streams of these uniting, 
form brooks, which unite 
into rivers ; and after add- 
ing to the beauty of the 
country, and accomplishing 
yery many useful purposes, 
empty themselves into the 
sea. Water is 816 times 
heavier than common air ; a 



pint of it weighs one pound, 
and a cubic foot about one 
thousand ounces, or sixty- 
two and a half pounds. Ice 
is chrystallized water ; and 
by a remarkable exemption 
from the common laws of 
heat, becomes lighter as it 
grows colder. In this is 
strikingly exemplified the 
wisdom and goodness of 
God. Dreadful would have 
been the consequences, if, 
like other fluids, water had 
grown heavier by loss of 
heat. In winter the ice on 
the surface of rivers would 
have sunk as it froze, in suc- 
cessive sheets, until the 
whole would have become 
a mass of ice, which no sub- 
sequent summer could thaw; 
and the world would soon 
have become uninhabitable. 
As it now is, no sooner is a 
crust of ice formed, but the 
water beneath i3 protected 
from further cold ; fishes are 
«afe, water abundant, and 
the moderate warmth of 
spring unbinds the stream. 
Such are the wonderful 
works of Him, who, in infi- 
nite wisdom, and by his al- 
mighty power, created the 
heavens and the earth. 
Water, when disturbed, sig- 
nifies troubles and afflictions. 
Ps. Ixix. 1. But flowing in 
all the plenitude and beauty 
of usefulness, it represents 
the gifts and comforts of the 
Holy Spirit, lsa. xii. 3 




THE EGYPTIAN WHEAT. 



VVEA 



263 



WHE 



xxxv. 6,7. John vii. 37,38. In 
Scripture, water is used for 
all soris of drink, as bread 
is put for all kinds of solid 
food. 

Water. courses are either 
the beds of rivers, wherein 
they run, or the streams 
themselves. Isa.. xliv. 4. 

WATKR-SPOUTS, are 
falls of water from the clouds, 
which are whirled round by 
tornadoes, so as to form a 
column ; or which are forced 
with a mighty noise from the 
sea, by an earthquake at the 
bottom. They are more fre- 
quent on the coasts of Pal- 
estine and Syria, than any 
where else in the Mediter- 
ranean Sea. To them are 
compared heavy, over- 
whelming, and terrifying 
visitations. Ps. xliii. 7. 

WAY, a path for travel- 
lers. The word is frequent- 
ly used to signify the habits 
of a person, or the method 
of doing any thing. Gen. 
vi. 12. Jer. x. 2. The cus- 
tomary dealings of God are 
called his way. Ps. xxv. 10. 
Isa. Iv. 8. Christ is " the 
way, the truth, and the life;" 
and his salvation is the "new 
and living way" of access to 
God. Heb.x.20. Jehovah's 
precepts are the " way of 
truth,'" 2 Pet. ii. 2, and those 
who obey, shall find them to 
be " ways of pleasantness 
and peace." Prov. iii. 17. 

WEASLES, are of two 



kinds, the house and the 
field weasle. They are sub- 
tle and strong, though of 
small size. They prey on 
serpents, moles, rats, mice, 
and sometimes on poultry. 
Occurs in Lev. xi. 29, only. 

WEEK, a division of time, 
universally observed by the 
descendants of Noah, which 
being lost by the Hebrews 
during their bondage in 
Egypt was revived and en- 
acted by Moses. Seven years 
are calied a week. Dan. ix. 
24, The undisputed antiqui- 
ty of the use of weeks, is a 
strong confirmation of the 
Old Testament history of the 
creation. &c. 

WEIGH, (1.) To exam- 
ine by scales. Ezek. iv. 16. 
(2) To inspect rigidly, Prov. 
xvi. 2. Isa. xxvi. 7. The she- 
kel weighed 10 dwt. Sixty of 
these made a waneh i weigh- 
ing 2 lb. 6 oz. Fifty manehs 
made a talent, or 3000 she. 
kels, weighing 1251bs. Such 
are the computations of 
Horne ; but on all this sub- 
ject there, is much uncer- 
tainty. 

WHEAT, a grain raised in 
most parts of the earth, of 
which is made the most es- 
teemed bread. Being called 
corn in England, where the 
Bible was translated, it is of- 
ten so called in Scripture. 
Matt. xii. 1. The ordinary 
kinds of wheat are well 
known. The annexed picture 



WIL 



264 



WIL 



shows the species common 
in Egypt, and is such as ap- 
peared to Pharaoh in his 
dream, who saw " seven ears 
of corn, come up upon one 
stalk, rank and good." Gen. 
xli. 5. The wisdom of God 
is strikingly shown in the 
stalk of Egyptian wheat. If 
it were hollow and weak like 
ours, which has only to sup 
port one ear, it would break 
with the weight. But it is 
solidly filled with a sort of 
pith, and thus rendered suf- 
ficiently firm. The Holy 
Land produced wheat and 
barely so abundantly, that 
sixty or a hundred fold some- 
times rewarded the hus- 
bandman. Gen. xxvi. 12. 
Matt. xiii. 8. It was export- 
ed to neighbouring countries 
in great quantities. 1 Kings 
V. 11. Actsxii. 20. 

WILDERNESS. (1J A 
tract of land less cultivated 
than the generality of the 
country, but not wholly 
desert. Joel i. 20. Such 
commonly derived their 
name from the chief city 
adjacent, as Diblah, Engedi, 
Judea, fye. The forerunner 
of our Lord resided in the 
wilu'erness of Judea, till he 
commenced his public min- 
istry. Ishmael settled in 
the wilderness of Paran ; 
and David took refuge from 
the persecution of Saul in 
the same ; in which the nu- 
merous flocks of Nabal, the 



Carmelite, were pastured. 
Such places, therefore, were 
not deserts, but thinly peo- 
pled, or less fertile districts. 
(2.) Places utterly waste, 
such as the wilderness where 
our Lord was tempted of the 
devil. A more dismal and 
solitary place can scarcely 
be found in the earth. About 
one hour's journey from the 
foot of the mountains which 
environ this wilderness, 
rises the lofty Qaarantania, 
which, Maundrell was told, 
is the mountain into which 
the devil carried our Sa- 
viour. It is, as the evange- 
list styles it, " an exceeding' 
high mountain," and in it* 
ascent both difficult and dan- 
gerous. It has now a small 
chapel at the top,andanoth- 
er about half way up, built 
on a prominent part of the 
rock. Near the latter are 
several caves and holes, oc- 
cupied formerly by hermits, 
and even in present times 
by religious devotees, who 
repair hither to keep their 
lent, in imitation of our 
Lord's fasting in the wilder- 
ness forty days. The land 
of Canaan was environed 
with wildernesses. We 
read of those of Egypt, 
Etham, Shur, Sin, Sinai, 
Tadmor, fyc\ The 40 years 
wandering of the Hebrews 
was in a wilderness indeed, 
and by no means the com- 
mon thoroughfare of travel*- 



WIL 



265 



WIN 



lers between Egypt and Ca- 
naan. The reason why Israel 
was turned into it we read, 
Numb. xiv. The only veg- 
etable productions which 
meet the eye ofthe traveller 
in these frightful solitudes, 
are occasionally some coarse 
sickly grass, a plat of senna, 
or saline or bitter herb, or 
an acacia bush, Moses, who 
knew these deserts well, 
calls them u great and ter 
rible," " a desert land," 
" the waste howling wilder- 
ness." Jeremiah, with sur- 
prising force and brevity, 
has exhibited those circum- 
stances of terror, which the 
modern traveller details 
with so much pathos and 
minuteness: "The Lord 
that brought us up out of 
the land of iSgypt, through 
a land of deserts and of pits, 
through a land of drought, 
and ofthe shadow of death, 
through a land which no 
man passed through, and 
where no man dwelt." (3.) 
The word is metaphorically 
used to signify things barren 
or unattractive. Hence God 
asks the Hebrews if he had 
been a wilderness to them. 
Jer. ii. 31. The Gentile 
world was called such. Isa. 
xxxv. 1 — 6, and xliii. J 9. 
The people of God are rep- 
resented as in a wilderness 
while in this world, but fa- 
voured with the presence of 
Christ. Sol. Song viii. 5. 

y 



WILD-HONEY. See 
Honey. 

WILL, that faculty ofthe 
soul, or operation of the 
mind, whereby a man freely 
chooses or refuses. Scrip- 
turally, to will any thing is 
of nature ; but to will what 
is good, is of grace, Ps. ex. 
3. John viii. 36. Phil. ii. 
13. The will of God may 
be known by reading his 
word, by observing his 
providences, and by pray- 
ing for his Spirit to enlight- 
en,- instruct, and guide the 
soul. 

WIMPLE, a hood, Isa. 
iii. 22. The word occurs 
also Ruth iii. 15, and is 
there translated Vail , which 
see. 

WIND, a flow of air from 
one place to another. There 
are trade winds, which blow 
constantly from east to west, 
and monsoons, which blow 
three or six months at once, 
from one point, and as long 
from the opposite. The Sa- 
miel, or Simoom, is the most 
terrible wind of eastern 
countries. Coming over the 
vast deserts, it brings intense 
and suffocating heat and 
dryness, with billows of 
sand and dust, carrying with 
it fiery streaks, like threads 
of silk ; whoever breathes 
it, dies instantly. It rarely 
lasts more than seven or 
eight minutes. If travellers 
see it approach, and lay 



WIN 



266 



WIN 



their faces to the earth till 
it pass, they commonly es 
cape. Camels and other an- 
imals do this by instinct. It 
is, of course, most dangerous 
when it comes unperceived 
in the night. Wnole cara- 
vans have perished in it. It 
is not improbable but that 
this wind was the " messen- 
ger of the Lard," which de- 
stroyed 185,000 men of Sen 
nacherib's army in one 
night. 2 Kings xix. 35. The 
preceding account willbeau- 
tifnlly illustrate the follow- 
ing passages of Scripture. 
Job xv. 2, and xxvii. 21, and 
xxxviii. 24. Jer. iv. 11. 
Ezek. xvii. 10, and xix. 12. 
Hos. xi-i. 1, and xiii. 15. 
Jonah iv. 8. Hab. i. 9. Ps 
eiii. 15, 16. A whirlwind, 
is a strong blast, which 
winds about in a somewhat 
circular manner. Multi- 
tudes of such blasts come 
from the deserts of Arabia ; 
and out of one of them the 
Lord spake to Job, Isa. xxi. 
1. Job xxxvii. 9, and xxxviii. 
1. Whirlwinds sometimes 
sweep down trees, houses, 
and every thing in their 
way. Prov. x. 25. 

Violent winds are compu- 
ted to fly at the rate of 4000 
feet in a minute. They are 
of great importance in pre- 
serving the purity of the at- 
mosphere. The operations 
of the Spirit of God on the 
heart, by which a spiritual 



change is wrought in the 
soul, are compared to the 
blowing of the wind, the ef- 
fect being evident, but the 
manner incomprehensible. 
John iii. 8. • 

WINE, a liquor made 
from grapes, much in the 
manner that cider is made 
from apples. There is no 
evidence that wine was 
known before the deluge. 
Noah was probably the first 
who preserved the juice of 
the grape, till by fermenta- 
tion it became proper wine. 
Before him, men only ate 
grapes like other fruit. His 
ignorance of its strength, 
caused his intoxication. Gen. 
ix. 20, 21. The " mixt 
wine," Prov. xxiii. 30, ren- 
dered in Isa. lxv. 11, " drink 
offering," may mean wine 
rendered more potent by the 
addition of myrrh, and other 
drugs, or of defrntum, that 
is, wine inspissated by boil- 
ing it down. Homer speaks 
of Helen giving such wine 
to her guests when oppress- 
ed with grief, to raise their 
spirits. Thus the drunkard 
is properly described as one 
that seeketh mixed wine, 
Prov. xxiii. 30 ; and " min- 
gles strong drink." 

WINE-PRESS, a vat, 
usually sunk into the earth. 
It was divided into two parts, 
one being deeper than the 
Other. Into the shallow 
compartment, the grapes 



WIS 



267 



WIS 



were thrown, while several 
men trod them with their 
feet, and the juice ran in- 
to the lower part. Rev. xiv. 
18. Jer. xxv. 30. 

WINTER, the season of 
cold, barrenness, and storms. 
In the torrid zone, which is 
about 3270 miles broad, they 
have two winters, or rainy 
seasons a year, but both are 
very mild. At the poles, 
nearly the whole year is 
winter, and awfully severe 
Gen. viii. 22. Spring and 
autumn are scarcely known. 
Vegetation starts suddenly 
at the return of the sun, and 
soon comes to perfection. In 
Sweden, nine months are a 
severe winter. Jn Canaan, 
great men had their warm 
houses for the winter sea 
son, as well as cooler ones 
for the summer. Jer. \xxvi. 
22. Amosiii. 15. The win- 
ter there is wet and cold ; 
especially between the 12th 
of Dec. ana 20th of Jan. 
Matt. xxiv. 20. Seasons of 
temptation, persecution, and 
distress, are likened to a 
winter: " summer and win- 
ter," may signify all the 
year long ; perpetually, 
Zech. xiv. 8. To winter in 
a place, is to live in it during 
the winter. Isaiah xviii. 6. 
Acts xxvii. 12. 

WISDOM, the power of 
judging rightly what is to be 
done, according to circum- 
stances. This is " worldly 



wisdom." But spiritual 
wisdom, " which is from 
above,'' James iii. 17, begins 
in the fear of God, and pro- 
duces true piety in all our 
deportment. It is known 
by several properties. It is 
pure; it makes men careful 
to avoid defilement by sin. 
It is peaceable ; under all 
the trying circumstances of 
life. It is gentle toward the 
infirmities of others, inter- 
preting all things for the 
best, and receding from 
right for the sake of peace. 
It is easy to be entreated; 
making men yield to good 
counsel, and sound reason. 
It is full of mercy ; making 
us pity the afflicted, and 
ready to forgive those that 
have offended us. It is full 
of good jruits, of benefi- 
cence, liberality, and all 
other offices of humanity 
which proceed from mercy. 
It is without partiality ; not 
courting and favouring the 
rich and influential merely 
because they are so, but re- 
garding and loving men ac- 
cording to their piety. It 
is sdso ivithout hypocrisy, not 
counterfeiiing goodness; nor 
condemning others, and yet 
being guilty of the same 
things ourselves. It is put 
for the Scriptures generally, 
Luke xi. 49 ; for the doc- 
trine of the GospeL 1 Cor. 
ii 6, 7 ; and for Jesus Christ 
the eternal and essential 



WIT 



2m 



WIT 



wisdom of God, Proverbs 
iii. 19. 

WISE MEN, or Magi. 
The Magian religion existed 
anciently in Persia. It was 
so revived and extended by 
Zoroaster that he has been 
regarded as the founder of 
the sect. They had temples 
in which were kept perpetual 
fires. The priests of the 
Magi being the only learned 
mathematicians and philoso- 
phers of the a;e in which 
they lived, the term Magian 
became synonymous with a 
learned man. The wise men 
or Magi, who visited our 
Saviour at his birth, were 
probably Persian doctors or 
princes. Matt. ii. 1. 

WIT, an obsolete word 
for know ; from which comes 
wot for knew, Exo. xxxii. 1. 
Acts iii. 17. " We do you to 
wit," 2 Cor. viii. 1, means 
we inform you. It is now 
used only in the infinitive 
mode to wit, meaning, name- 
ly, that is to say. 

WITCH is a woman, and 
toizard is a man, that has, or 
is supposed to have dealings 
with Satan. In Europe witch- 
craft was universally believ- 
ed in, till the sixteenth cen- 
tury, and is still, in most parts 
of the earth. Of late, in Eu- 
rope and America, some have 
denied its existence altogeth- 
er. That such persons have 
been found among men, is 
abundantly plain from Scrip- 



ture. Lev. xix. 31. Deut. 
xviii. 10, 11. 2 Chron.xxxiii. 
6. Gal. v. 20. By the Jew- 
ish law they were to be put 
to death. Exo. xxii. 18. Lev. 
xx. 27. It is plain, that great 
caution is necessary in the 
detection and punishment of 
those who may be guilty of 
this crime. Witchcraft ex- 
cludes from the kingdom of 
God. Gal. v. 20. It is a 
great sin to place any confi- 
dence in persons who profess 
these powers ; or to honour, 
or aid them by seeking them 
to interpret dreams, tell for- 
tunes, discover stolen goods, 
&c. Those who thus consult 
them are abhorred of God. 
Lev. xx. 6. Nahum iii. 4. 
Mic. v. 12. 

WITHES, twisted boughs, 
bark, willow, &,c. such as 
those wherewith faggots are 
often bound together. Judges 
xvi. 7, 8. 

WITNESS, one who gives 
evidence. The Holy Spirit 
" beareth witness" to our 
adoption, by producing in us 
the graces of Christianity. 
Rom. viii. Christ is called 
the u faithful witness," Rev. 
i. 5, because he faithfully de- 
clared the things of God, and 
sealed his testimony with his 
blood. The prophets and pi- 
ous persons of the Old Testa- 
ment, are a " cloud of wit- 
nesses" to the faithfulness 
and mercy of God. The 
Apostles are competent wit- 



WOM 



269 



WOR 



nesses of the things they af- 
firm in the New Testament, 
because they saw and heard 
the things of which they 
speak. They are credible 
witnesses, because they had 
no interest to deceive, and 
suffered great hardships, and 
even death for the sake of 
their testimony. 

WOE is a word of mourn- 
ing. Ezek, xxx. 2. Ps. cxx. 

5. A woe is a heavy calam- 
ity. Rev. viii. 13. Matt. 
xxiii. 13. Woeful, full of 
distress and sorrow. Jer. 
xvii. 16. 

WOLF, an animal of the 
dog kind, crafty, greedy, 
ravenous, fierce, and of a 
quick smell. Wolves abide 
in forests, and live on smaller 
animals. Matt. vii. 15. They 
can bear hunger long, but 
are then exceedingly fierce, 
and will attack either man or 
beast. Hence in the eve- 
ning, when they come hun- 
gry out of their holes, they 
are very dangerous. Jer. v. 

6. The species most common 
in Syria, Africa, <&c. is the 
Hyaena. The name is ap- 
plied to tyrannical rulers, 
Zephaniah iii. 3 — to false j 
prophets, Matthew vii. 15 — to i 
mercenary pastors, Acts xx. 
29, &c. 

WOMAN. Before the fall 
the woman seems to have 
been more on a level with 
the man, than since the curse, 
in whicli she seems to have 



been the greater sharer. In 
most parts of the world wo- 
men are treated harshly. So 
much is this the case in some 
countries^ that mothers often 
murder their female infants, 
that they may not experience 
such hardships as themselves 
endure. In the Christian 
church women are raised to 
an equality with men in most 
of their religious privileges, 
but are not permitted to gov- 
ern or teach. Gal. iii. 28. 1 
Cor. xiv. 34. Rules for fe- 
male behaviour and dress are 
laid down, Tit. ii. 1 Pet. iii. 
&c. and their duties towards 
their husbands, in 1 Cor. vii. 
Eph.- v. 

WORD, an intelligible 
sound. Any discourse is so 
called. Gen.xxxvii. 14. Deut. 
iv. 2. The term is applied 
tothe sacred Scriptures Luke 
xi. 23. James i. 22. It is also 
a name of Christ. John i. 
Heb. iv. 12—14, and xi. 3. 
Why he is so called we are 
not expressly told. Perhaps 
because he is the intelligible 
indication of the Father's 
will and character, as words 
are of our thoughts, Heb. i. 
2, 3 ; and because he spake 
creation into being, commu- 
nicated with the patriarchs 
and prophets, declared the 
gospel when on earth, now 
intercedes in heaven, and 
will give sentence at the last 
day. 

WORK, any thing done* 



WOR 



270 



WOT 



Creation is the work of God. 
Gen. ii. 2. The works of 
God's providence are his 
preservation and government 
of the world. John v. 17. The 
work of redemption is attrib- 
uted to the three persons of 
the Trinity ; the beginning 
is from the Father ; the dis- 
pensation is through the Son ; 
and the application by the 
Spirit. John vi. 29. 1 Peter 
i. 2. 

By good works, are under- 
stood all manner of duties, as 
well thoughts, as words and 
actions, towards God or man, 
which are commanded in the 
law of God, and proceed from 
a pure heart and faith un- 
feigned, and are referred un- 
to God's glory. Eph. ii. 10. 
Good works are the way to 
the kingdom, not the cause 
of entering thither. They 
are imperfect, Ecc. vii. 20 — 
and of course are not merito- 
rious, Luke xvii. 10. They 
are, however, the only evi- 
dence of our title to heaven, 
James ii. 18 — 20. They show 
our gratitude to God, Psalm 
cxvi. 12, 13 — are honorary to 
our profession, Titus ii. 10 — 
and profitable to men, Titus 
iii. 8. 

WORLD. (1.) The earth 
and all the animals, and veg- 
etables on its surface ; man- 
kind generally. (2.) The 
universe and all created be- 
ings. John i. 10. (3.) The 
wicked, who relish and love 



nothing but worldly things, 
and pursue only worldly de- 
signs. John xv. 13. (4.) The 
Gentiles. Rom. xi. 12. (5.) 
The pleasures, riches, and 
honours of the world. 1 Cor. 
vii. 31. Man's tongue is a 
" world of iniquity ;" its 
words contain inconceivable 
wickedness. James iii. 6. 
Worldly is what is of a carnal 
and earthly nature. Tit. ii. 
12. Heb. ix. 1. 

WORMWOOD, an herb, 
of a very hitter taste. In the 
Septuagint, the original word 
is variously rendered, and 
generally by terms expres- 
sive of its figurative sense ; 
for what is offensive, odious, 
or deleterious ; as idolatry, 
profaneness, apostacy, &c. 
Deut. xxix. 18. Heb. xii. 15. 
Celsius considers it to be 
the Absinthum Santonicum 
Judaicum, which Rauwolf 
describes as abounding round 
Bethlehem. Prov. v. 4. Lam. 
iii. 15. 

WORSHIP, to bow down 
with reverence ; it means, 
(1.) Civil reverence, given 
to persons of authority or 
worth, Matt. ix. 13. xviii. 26. 
Luke xiv. 10. (2 ) Outward 
homage, given as an acknowl- 
edgment of Deity. Matt. iv. 
10. Dan. iii. 5, 1*2, 14. (3.) 
Inward trust, love, and fear 
of God, because of his infi- 
nite excellency. John iv. 24. 
Phil. iii. 3. 

WOT, to know ; to be 



YEA 



271 



YEA 



aware ; a word not now in 
common use. Numb. xxii. 6. 
See Wit. 

WRITING was probably 
taught men by the inspira- 
tion of God. Ex. xvii. 14. 
xxiv. 4. The alphabets of 
all languages have a remark- 
able similarity to the He- 
brew. At first, writing seems 
to have been very rudely 
done, the letters being cut 
or scratched on stone, Exod. 
xxiv. 12 ; or on plastered 
stones, Deut. xxvii. 2 ; or on 
clay, which was then baked 
like brick ; or on plates of 
lead. Afterward tablets of 
wood were used, on which 
the letters were traced. Then 
those were improved by cov- 
ering them with thin wax 



national concerns, and in the 
other, their religious affairs 
and festivals. The civil year 
commenced in the month 
Tizri; that is, at the autum- 
nal equinox; and their sacred 
year in the month JYisan, or 
ancient Abib y Ex. xii. 2, 
which corresponded either to 
March or April, according to 
the passover moon. The sa- 
cred year was instituted as a 
new era to commemorate the 
deliverance of Israel from the 
yoke of the Egyptians. Ex. 
xii. 2. It might be consider- 
ed as a presage of the gospel 
day, because it began in the 
very month in which Christ 
was crucified, and thus put 
an end to the ancient dispen- 
sation. John xix. 30. Every 
and writing with a sharp third year they added a month, 
stick. To obliterate the wri- to make up for the days lost 

in consequence of measuring 



ting, they were held to the 
fire ; hence God is said to 
blot out sins " as a cloud." 
The sharp instrument for 
writing was called a style, 
hence we call a man's man- 
ner of writing, his style. Af- 
terward, bark, &c. became 
used. See Paper. 



YEAR, a space of twelve 
months. The Jews had both 
a civil and a sacred year ; in 
the first they regulated their 



the months by revolutions of 
the moon, which made the 
year consist of 354 days. 
This intercalary month they 
called Ve-adar, or second 
Adar. See Month. 

Ignorance of chronology, 
and pride of antiquity, made 
the Egyptians, Chaldeans, 
Chinese, Indians, and others, 
date back the rise of their 
own nation to the distance of 
a ridiculous number of years. 
It is now conceded by most 
learned men, that the crea- 
tion occurred at or about 4004 
years before the birth of our 
Saviour. The practice of 



YEA 



272 



YEA 



numbering the years from 
the birth of Christ, was not 
adopted for several centuries 
after that event. Different 
countries had their different 
eras for commencing ; such 
as the foundation of a metro- 
polis, or the reign of a king. 
The last method, was used in 
England till the time o( Crom- 
well, when the Christian era 
was adopted. Anno Domini , 
generally written A. D. 
means yearof our Lord. Anno 
Mundi, or year of the world, 
marks the date from creation. 
There is much confusion 
in all chronology, from the 
incorrect modes of computing 
the year, practised by early 
nations. The use of lunar 
months, of twenty-nine and 
a half days each, made the 
year too short. Many plans 
were adopted to regulate the 
year, but none came near 
making the lunar and solar 
year correspond, till Julius 
Cesar, by the help of his as- 
tronomers, brought it to a 
considerable degree of accu- 
racy. He abolished the lunar 
month, and established a 
solar year, of 365 days, 6 
hours, divided into 12 artifi- 
cial months, consisting alter- 
nately of 30 and 31 days. 
The odd six hours in four 
years made a whole day, 
which was added by count- 
ing the 24th day of Februa- 
ry twice. The year on 
which this was done w T as 



called leap year. The new 
reckoning, however, was not 
perfectly exact, for the true 
year consists of only 365 days 
5 hours and 49 minutes, so 
that the Julian year was 
eleven minutes too long. 
This surplus in 130 years 
amounted to a whole day, and 
in 1600 years had created an 
error of ten clays. In the 
year 1532 Pope Gregory 
XIII. at the instance of Lilio, 
the Roman astronomer, pro- 
posed to strike out this ex- 
cess of ten days, and to omit 
three leap years in every 
four centuries. This was for 
a while called New Style, and 
was gradually adopted both 
by Catholic and Protestant 
states. It was not introduced 
into England till the middle 
of the last century, [1752] at 
which time the difference 
amounted to elcren days. 
Russia has not yet acceded 
to this reform, and the differ- 
ence now amounts to 12 
days. So that the 12th day 
of the month with us, is the 
1st day of that month with 
her. Our present calendar 
is very nearly, though not 
quite correct. The surplus, 
as now left, would not amount 
to seven hours in 1000 years. 
In prophetic style, a year 
signifies 360 years, and a 
month 30 years, a day be- 
ing put for a year ; and so 
three years and a half, and 
"times, time, and half a 



YOK 



273 



ZAD 



time," or 42 months, or 1260 
days, denote the 1260 years' 
duration oi Antichrist. Rev. 
xl 2, 3. xii. 6, 14. 

YOKE, a frame of wood 
for the neck of oxen with 
which they draw ; a mark of 
servitude, bondage, or slave- 
ry. The service of God is, 
to flesh and blood, a yoke, 
because it restrains our natu- 
ral inclinations; yet it is 
easy in comparison of the 
service of sin, the covenant 
of works, or the ceremonial 
law. Matt, xi.29, SO. Gal. 
v. 1. It is easy to them that 
love God, and are born of the 
Spirit, because the law is 
written in their hearts, they 
are endued with faith, and 
they are strengthened by 
Christ. Ps. xxxvii. In the 
ordinance of the red heifer 
that was to be slain for the 
water of separation, Numb. 
xix. 2, 9. it was expressly 
required that she should be 
" without spot or blemish, 
and never have worn a yoke." 
As all the ancient institutions 
were designed to convey re- 
ligious instruction, we learn 
from this victim, that our 
first services are clue to God ; 
and typically, the perfection 
of our Lord and Saviour, 
Jesus Christ, whose blood 
cleanseth from all sin Heb. 
ix. 13, 14. Uohni. 7. With 
respect to the creature never 
having worn a yoke, the 
heathens were particularly 



scrupulous on this point. 
Hence, Homer represents 
Diomedes, as promising to 
Pallas, 

"A yearly heifer, 

Unconscious of the galling yoke." 



MA* 

ZACCHE'US, a rich pub- 
lican. Whether be was a 
Jew or not, is uncertain. 
Publicans paid government a 
certain sum for the t.ixes of 
a specified district, and then 
collected them on their own 
account and risk. This is 
called farming a revenue. 

ZACHARIAH, or Zech- 
ariah. There were several 
persons of this name. (1) A 
king of Israel, who reigned 
but six months. 2 Kings xv. 
(2.) A chief priest, martyred 
by king Joash. 2 Chron. xxiv. 
He is probably the person 
mentioned bv our Saviour, 
Matt, xxiii. 35. (3.) One of 
the minor prophets, who re- 
turned from Babylon, with 
Zerubbabel, A. M. 3484, and 
began to prophesy about two 
months after Haggai. He 
wrote the book which bears 
his name, and has been call- 
ed the chief of the minor 
prophets. (4.) One of the 
common priests, father of 
John Baptist. Luke i. 

ZA'DOK, the son of Ahi- 
tub, appointed high priest 



ZEA 



274 



ZEB 



by Saul. By this event that 
high office was returned to 
the family of Eleazer, after 
it had continued nearly 120 
years in the house of Eli, and 
the family of Ithamar. 

ZAMZUM'MIMS, a gi- 
gantic race of men residing 
near Moab. Deut. ii. 20. 

ZAR/EPHATH, or Sa- 
repta, where Elijah dwelt 
sometime with a widow ; 
was a sea- port of Phoenicia, 
midway between Tyre and. 
Sklon. 1 Kings xvii. 9, 10. 
Luke iv. 26. About A. D. 
400, it was stiil of some note. 
Its present name is Sarphend. 

ZAR'ETAN^Zar'taintah, 
or Zered'athah, a place 
near to which the waters 
stood in heaps, as Joshua 
passed below. The large 
molten vessels of the temple 
were cast in the adjacent 
plain. Josh. iii. 16. 1 Kings 
iv. 12. 2 Chron. iv. 17. 

ZEAL, a fervent passion 
or earnest desire for any 
thing, but especially in the 
cause of religion. 2 Kings 
x. 16. Titus ii. 14. St. Paul 
speaks of some Jews having 
a " zeal of God, but not ac- 
cording to knowledge," Rom 
x. 2 ; that is, they had an 
earnest desire to maintain 
the honour of the ritual to 
which they were accustom- 
ed ; but knew not that right- 
eousness whereby a person 
is justified before God. It 
is of unspeakable importance 



that our zeal be enlightened 
and pure. When it is cher- 
ished in connexion with ig- 
norance, bigotry or prejudice, 
it leads on to fury and per- 
secution, and every evil 
work. Johnxvi. 2. Acts ix. 
1, 2. God's zeal is his high 
and holy regard to his own 
honour, and to the welfare 
of his people. 2 Kings xix. 
81. 

ZEBOTM. (1.) One of 
the cities of the plain, de- 
stroyed with Sodom. Gen. 
xiv. (2.) A valley near 
Jericho. 1 Sam.xii. 18. (3.) 
A city of the Benjamites. 
Neb. xi. 34. 

ZEBULON, or Zabuloiv, 
the sixth son of Jacob by 
Leah, born about A. M. 2256, 
from whom sprang one of 
the tribes of Israel. When 
this tribe came out of Egypt, 
their fighting men amounted 
to 57,400 men, commanded 
by Eiiab the son of Elon ; 
they increased 3100 in the 
wilderness. They had their 
inheritance between the Sea 
of Galilee and the Mediterra- 
nean, and enriched them- 
selves by fisheries, com- 
merce, and the manufacture 
of glass. They were very 
honest in their dealings, and, 
notwithstanding the distance, 
were punctual attenders of 
the worship of God at Jeru- 
salem. Gen. xlix. 13. Their 
country was signally blessed 
with the early instructions 



ZEL 



275 



ZIF 



and miracles of our Saviour. 
Isa. ix. 1,2. Matt.iv. 13,15. 
There was a city of this 
name in the tribe of Asher. 
Joshua xix. 27. Judges xii. 
12. 

ZEDEKIAH, the son of 
Josiah. When Nebuchad- 
nezzar carried Jehoiachin 
prisoner to Babylon, he made 
Mattaniah king in his stead 
after he had caused him to 
swear to be his tributary, 
and changed his name to 
Zedekiah. He began to 
reign when he was twenty- 
one years of age, and reigned 
eleven. He revolted, but 
was subdued and carried 
prisoner to Nebuchadnezzar, 
who caused his children to 
he murdered before his face, 
and then his eyes to be 
plucked out ; after which he 
loaded him with chains, and 
sent him to Babylon, where 
he died. Jeremiah xxi. 
xxvii. 

ZELO'TES, or Zealots, 
a sect often mentioned in 
Jewish history. Lamy is of 
opinion that the just men 
sent to entangle Christ in his 
conversation, were of this 
class. Luke xx. 20. 

Dr. Gill says, that they 
were a set of men, who, in 
imitation of Phinehas, who 
slew Zimri and Cozbi in the 
act of uncleanness, would 
immediately kill any person 
whom they found commit- 
ting adultery, idolatry, blas- 



phemy, or theft. He quotes 
various Jewish authors, who 
regarded their conduct as 
highly laudable. Simon was 
of this class. Luke vi. 15. 
Acts i 13 

ZEMARA'IM, a city of 
Benjamin, not far from Beth- 
el, near which was fought a 
bloody battle in the days of 
Jeroboam I. Josh, xviii. 22. 
2 Chron. xiii. 3—18. 

ZEM'ARITES, descend- 
ants of Canaan, by Zemar, 
his tenth son. Gen. x. 18. 

ZEPHANIAH is thought 
to have lived about the time 
of Jeremiah. He awfully 
reproves the wickedness of 
his times, and predicted God's 
chastisement by the invasions 
of the Chaldeans ; declared 
glorious things for the church, 
and denounced ruin upon 
idolatrous nations. 

ZERUB'BABEL was the 
Jewish name of Shesbaz- 
zar, who built the second 
temple, by authority of Cy- 
rus. Ezra v. 16. Zech. iv. 9. 
He took with him to Judea a 
colony of 50,000 persons, and 
restored the temple worship. 
In his day lived Haggai and 
Zechariah the prophets. Hag. 
i. and ii. Zech. iv. 

ZIF, orJAiR, the second 
month of the Jewish sacred 
year, and eighth of the civil. 
Such as by reason of jonrnies, 
uncleanness, &c. were de- 
barred from keeping the pass- 
over at the regular time, 



ZIO 



276 



ZIO 



were permitted to observe it 
on the 14lh of this month. 

ZION, or Siojv. (1.) Part 
of the range of mountains in 
the north of Canaan, called 
Anti-Libanus. Deut. iv. 48. 
(2.) Part of the site of Jeru- 
salem. 

Which of the- several hills 
on which Jerusalem stood 
was probably called Zion, is 
now not certain, the whole 
city having early taken that 
name, and the temple itself 



especially. Ps. lxv. l.lxxxiv. 
7. The worshippers at the 
temple, if not the whole in- 
habitants of Jerusalem, are 
calledZion. Ps. xcvii. 8. It is 
thought that the temple stood 
on Mount Moriah, where 
Abraham offered his son. 1 
Kings viii. 1. Ps. xlviii. 2. 
The Church is called Zion. 
Ps. cii. 13. 1st. ii. 3. Heh. 
xii. 22. The name is applied 
to heaven. Rev. xiv. 1. 



PUBLISHERS NOTE. 

A large and beautiful edition of this valuable Diction- 
ary was last summer printed in London, by one of the 
principal Publishers of that city, which has been received 
with avidity botfi in England and Scotland. This proof 
of the high estimation in which it is held in Europe, is 
gratifying to the Publishers ; and they trust that this 
fourth improved edition will greatly increase the circula- 
tion and utility of the work in the United States. 

Jan, 1832. 









LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 




014 241 777 7 






V -. 









